What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epsom has the oldest population (median age 47.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Epsom	Barnstead
People
Population	4,939Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Epsom and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Epsom and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH
	Barnstead and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,210Highest 7% below NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Epsom and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4% NH: 7.2%	3.4% NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 15% above NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Epsom 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	#69 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Epsom School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.