Compare towns
Loudon vs Barnstead vs Chichester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Loudon | Barnstead | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692Highest |
4,994 |
2,745Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43±3.3 about the NH average |
| Loudon and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Loudon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
| Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Chichester and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Barnstead School District | Chichester 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.