Compare towns
Gilmanton vs Upton vs Barnstead vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Upton | Barnstead | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,026Lowest |
8,189Highest |
4,994 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45±4.4 16% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $117,088±$9k 45% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Upton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$421 20% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,235 100% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 99.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 min 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #46 of 282 in MA | #111 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Gilmanton School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Barnstead School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.