What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Durham has the oldest population (median age 46.5).

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	New Durham	Barnstead
People
Population	2,748Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±7.5Highest 7% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	New Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	New Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,194±$13kLowest about the NH average	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$339,400±$27kLowest 16% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,417±$116Highest 5% below NH	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH
	New Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,774Lowest 13% below NH	$6,003Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±42.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 30% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	10%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Barnstead and New Durham 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	Governor Wentworth Regional School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.