Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Auburn 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
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Gilmanton | Auburn | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
6,119Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4Highest 4% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Gilmanton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Auburn and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,235 6% below NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Auburn School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.