Compare towns
Barnstead vs Worcester vs Ripton vs Northwood
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 kids (21% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Northwood has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Worcester | Ripton | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
831 |
508Lowest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
42.4±7.8Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Worcester 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% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Northwood 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% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$129,375±$23kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Northwood and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$363,000±$13k 9% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
— | $1,201±$372 15% below U.S. |
| 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 92% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$5,806 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | — | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.