What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bradford has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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	Bradford	Barnstead
People
Population	1,565Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.3±5.2Highest 16% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Bradford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bradford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.3%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bradford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,015±$21kLowest 9% above NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$341,700±$38kLowest 15% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,507±$206Highest about the NH average	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH
	Bradford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,307Highest 5% below NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.1%±22.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	18.6%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bradford and Barnstead 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
School district	Kearsarge Regional School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.