What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).

Barnstead has the youngest population (median age 42.8).

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	Grantham	Barnstead
People
Population	3,465Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14%Highest NH: +4.6%	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Grantham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.6%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,395±$75 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,605Highest 14% above NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	—	47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	0%Lowest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	100%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 16% below NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	13.8%±6.2Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Grantham 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	#6 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Grantham 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.