Compare towns
Northwood vs Chichester 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
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Chichester has the most expensive homes ($409k median).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Chichester | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,688 |
2,745Lowest |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Chichester and Barnstead 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% |
20.3%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Chichester 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% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Chichester 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 |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Northwood and Barnstead 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 |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Barnstead 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester and Northwood 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Chichester School District | Barnstead 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.