Compare towns

Eliot vs Barnstead vs Jaffrey

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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.

MeasureEliotBarnsteadJaffrey
People
Population
7,146Highest
4,994Lowest
5,448
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
42.8±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
42.9±3.9
10% above U.S.
Eliot and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Jaffrey and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±4.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
31.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$111,660±$12kHighest
38% above U.S.
$92,330±$18kLowest
14% above U.S.
Barnstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$362,400±$25k
9% above U.S.
$245,500±$27kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
$962±$202Lowest
32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$6,003
92% above U.S.
$6,196Highest
99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
45.7%±23Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
81.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
7.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Eliot 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 #19 of 133 in ME #111 of 120 in NH #87 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Barnstead School District Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town None in town Conant Middle High School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school — —
21.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.