Compare towns

Holderness vs Barnstead vs Madbury

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holderness has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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.

MeasureHoldernessBarnsteadMadbury
People
Population
1,917Lowest
4,994Highest
2,203
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7%
NH: +4.6%
+8.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
39.4±7.4
9% below NH
42.8±3.1Highest
about the NH average
37.7±2.1Lowest
13% below NH
Barnstead and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±9.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5
NH: 18.2%
29%±5.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
Madbury and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
31.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8
NH: 20.1%
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
52.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.8
NH: 6%
Barnstead and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,863±$45kLowest
9% above NH
$111,660±$12k
13% above NH
$148,365±$30kHighest
50% above NH
Madbury and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$363,100±$60k
10% below NH
$362,400±$25kLowest
10% below NH
$476,900±$31kHighest
18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$385Highest
39% above NH
$1,395±$75Lowest
6% below NH
$1,574±$759
6% above NH
Holderness and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,923Lowest
41% below NH
$6,003
10% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
23.5%±21.2
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
16.7%±15.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Barnstead and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.9%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.7%
NH: 72.8%
93.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
2 yrs newer than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
16% above NH
25 minLowest
5% below NH
Work from home
9.4%±4.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
14%±3.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
Madbury 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 Holderness School District Barnstead School District Oyster River Coop 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.