Compare towns
Kingston vs Barnstead vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Kingston | Barnstead | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,275 |
4,994Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7 28% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Barnstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Barnstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906Highest 19% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Barnstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.