Compare towns
Nottingham vs Keene vs Barnstead vs New Boston
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%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Barnstead has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | Nottingham | Keene | Barnstead | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,357 |
22,939Highest |
4,994Lowest |
6,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
| Barnstead and Nottingham 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above 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 |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #15 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Keene School District | Barnstead School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.