What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).

Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).

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	Brookfield	Barnstead
People
Population	567Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58.1±9.7Highest 34% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	38.4%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±5Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,406±$31kLowest 18% below NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,000±$61kHighest 6% above NH	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
	Brookfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,395±$75 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,926Lowest 11% below NH	$6,003Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	3.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	98.4%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	13.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Brookfield 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	—	Barnstead School District
High school 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.