Compare towns
Loudon vs Barnstead vs Kingston
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 shortest commute (30 min average).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Kingston has the most expensive homes ($493k 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.
| Measure | Loudon | Barnstead | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,692 |
4,994Lowest |
6,275Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Loudon 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% |
35.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 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 | $106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
| Barnstead and Loudon 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% 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 | $5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$7,906Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 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 | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Barnstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9 |
| 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.