What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).

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 Ipswich	Barnstead
People
Population	5,310Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH	42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average
Kids under 18	29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	New Ipswich and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,507±$9kLowest 12% above NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$392,400±$31kHighest about the NH average	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
	New Ipswich and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH
	Barnstead and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,647Lowest 15% below NH	$6,003Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	New Ipswich and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 22% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%
	Barnstead and New Ipswich 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	#82 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Mascenic Regional School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	Mascenic Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
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.