What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).

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	Chichester	Barnstead
People
Population	2,745Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±3.3Highest about the NH average	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Chichester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
	Chichester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,189Highest 8% above NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Chichester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 13% above NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	19%±8Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Chichester 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	#75 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Chichester 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.