Compare towns
Chichester vs Barnstead vs Loudon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Chichester | Barnstead | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,745Lowest |
4,994 |
5,692Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±3.3 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
| Loudon and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Loudon and Barnstead 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% NH: 40.6% |
29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$13k 10% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$106,966±$16kLowest 8% 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 |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
| Chichester and Loudon 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±$75 6% below NH |
$1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,189Highest 8% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4Lowest 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chichester School District | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.