Compare towns

Nottingham vs Candia 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

Nottingham has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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.

MeasureNottinghamCandiaNew BostonBarnstead
People
Population
5,357
4,134Lowest
6,165Highest
4,994
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.3%
NH: +4.6%
+2.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+14.8%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.8±6.7Lowest
10% below NH
48.3±3.8Highest
12% above NH
38.8±3.4Lowest
10% below NH
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.9%±5.4
NH: 18.2%
12.8%±3.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.2%±5.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5
NH: 18.2%
New Boston and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
23.1%±4.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
17%±4.3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8
NH: 20.1%
Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.9%
NH: 40.6%
27.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
44.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
5.7%±2.6
NH: 6%
3.6%±3Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,201±$20k
23% above NH
$119,737±$37k
21% above NH
$154,250±$25kHighest
56% above NH
$111,660±$12kLowest
13% above NH
New Boston and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$457,500±$26k
14% above NH
$415,600±$46k
3% above NH
$481,100±$59kHighest
20% above NH
$362,400±$25kLowest
10% below NH
New Boston and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$1kHighest
39% above NH
$1,213±$554
19% below NH
$1,193±$111Lowest
20% below NH
$1,395±$75
6% below NH
Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,319
10% above NH
$6,100
9% below NH
$8,181Highest
23% above NH
$6,003Lowest
10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
92.1%±44.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
0%±21.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
22.8%±20.5
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
Nottingham 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%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
91.7%
NH: 72.8%
88%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
13 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
1989
10 yrs newer than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
27% above NH
34 min
29% above NH
36 minHighest
33% above NH
31 minLowest
16% above NH
Work from home
22.2%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
10.8%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.2%±6.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #15 of 120 in NH #41 of 120 in NH #21 of 120 in NH #111 of 120 in NH
School district Nottingham School District Candia School District New Boston School District Barnstead School District
High school in town None in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.