Compare towns

Brookfield vs Barnstead vs New Durham

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 oldest population (median age 58.1).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
New Durham has the most affordable homes ($339k median).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldBarnsteadNew Durham
People
Population
567Lowest
4,994Highest
2,748
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
NH: +4.6%
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
58.1±9.7Highest
34% above NH
42.8±3.1Lowest
about the NH average
46.5±7.5
7% above NH
Brookfield and New Durham 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%
14.8%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
Barnstead and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
38.4%±3.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
23.8%±4
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
34.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
1%±0.7Lowest
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
$100,194±$13k
about the NH average
Barnstead and New Durham 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
$339,400±$27kLowest
16% 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±$75Lowest
6% below NH
$1,417±$116Highest
5% below NH
New Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,926
11% below NH
$6,003Highest
10% below NH
$5,774Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
47.6%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
25%±42.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Barnstead and New Durham 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%
5.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
94%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
31 min
16% above NH
35 minHighest
30% above NH
Work from home
13.7%±6.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
10%±4.1Lowest
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 Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town — None 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.