Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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.
| Measure | Gilmanton | Lancaster | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,026 |
3,216Lowest |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±4.4 4% above NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Lancaster and Gilmanton 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% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,088±$9kHighest 18% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$42kHighest 10% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421 25% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
| Barnstead and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,235Highest 6% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 23% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Lancaster 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.