Compare towns
Northwood vs Barnstead vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Sanbornton has the most expensive homes ($452k 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 | Northwood | Barnstead | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,688 |
4,994Highest |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
| Barnstead and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Northwood and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$452,300±$30kHighest 12% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Barnstead and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,806 13% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Sanbornton 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Barnstead School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
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| 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.