What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the shortest commute (25 min average).

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belmont	Barnstead
People
Population	7,392Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 9% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Belmont and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Belmont and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,585Lowest 16% below NH	$6,003Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 6% below NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Barnstead and Belmont 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	#92 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Shaker Regional School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	Belmont High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.