Compare towns
Danville vs Wakefield vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danville has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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.
| Measure | Danville | Wakefield | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,531Lowest |
5,405Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42±4Lowest 3% below NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Wakefield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,104±$21kHighest 16% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,600±$26kHighest 9% above NH |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,144±$867Highest 44% above NH |
$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,504Highest 28% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 70.2%±61.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Danville and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 30% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Danville 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 | #40 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Wakefield School District | Barnstead 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.