Compare towns
Madbury vs New Boston vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the shortest commute (25 min average).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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.
| Measure | Madbury | New Boston | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
6,165Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Barnstead and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| New Boston and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| New Boston and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Madbury 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 |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston and Madbury 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 | — | #21 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | New Boston School District | Barnstead 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.