Compare towns

Dummer vs Barnstead vs Stark

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummer has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Barnstead has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Stark has the most affordable homes ($198k 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.

MeasureDummerBarnsteadStark
People
Population
299Lowest
4,994Highest
419
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-14%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
53.6±6.4
24% above NH
42.8±3.1Lowest
about the NH average
58.8±3.6Highest
36% above NH
Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1
NH: 18.2%
21%±5Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±6.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Barnstead and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±4.6
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
27.2%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Stark and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
17.5%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±5.7Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
3.6%±4.7
NH: 6%
Barnstead and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$21k
8% below NH
$111,660±$12kHighest
13% above NH
$71,750±$23kLowest
28% below NH
Barnstead and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,200±$51k
40% below NH
$362,400±$25kHighest
10% below NH
$197,700±$34kLowest
51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,395±$75
6% below NH
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,898
57% below NH
$6,003Highest
10% below NH
$2,636Lowest
60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
66.7%±100Highest
NH: 48.2%
Stark and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.2%Highest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%
NH: 72.8%
92.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
2 yrs older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1968Lowest
11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below NH
31 min
16% above NH
34 minHighest
27% above NH
Work from home
6.8%±4.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
13.9%±6.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
Stark 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 Stark 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.