What stands out worked out from the figures below

Candia has the most expensive homes ($416k median).

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	Candia	Barnstead
People
Population	4,134Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH	$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH
	Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
	Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH
	Barnstead and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Highest 9% below NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Barnstead and Candia 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	#41 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Candia School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.