Compare towns
Brookfield vs Barnstead vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookfield has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Brookfield | Barnstead | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 567 |
4,994Highest |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±9.7 34% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Lyman and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 8.6%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.4%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±5 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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±$31k 18% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$71,042±$17kLowest 28% below 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$311,100±$66kLowest 23% 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±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,147±$81Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,926 11% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$3,981Lowest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyman and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | 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.