What stands out worked out from the figures below

Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).

Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).

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	Effingham	Barnstead
People
Population	1,912Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.9±12.4Highest 8% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Effingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and Effingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,163Lowest 23% below NH	$6,003Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Effingham 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%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 18% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	16.1%±4.2Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Effingham 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	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.