Compare towns
Barnstead vs Williston vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barnstead | Williston | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
10,144Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.