What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).

Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).

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	Hampton Falls	Barnstead
People
Population	2,328Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Hampton Falls and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hampton Falls and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH	$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH
	Hampton Falls and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Hampton Falls 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%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 21% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hampton Falls 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	—	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Hampton Falls 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.