Compare towns
Fremont vs Northwood vs Strafford 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
Fremont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Northwood has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Barnstead has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Fremont | Northwood | Strafford | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,831 |
4,688 |
4,306Lowest |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 about the NH average |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.9 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Fremont and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3% NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,781±$18k 22% above NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Northwood and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,900±$31k 4% above NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Strafford and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,668±$795Highest 79% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Fremont and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,954Highest 4% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 94.2%±5.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Fremont and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
89%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Strafford 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 | #91 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fremont School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Strafford School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.