Compare towns
Barnstead vs Wolfeboro vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
6,571Highest |
4,688Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
| Northwood 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 10% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
| Barnstead and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,806 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Northwood 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
11.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.