Compare towns
Nottingham vs Mason 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Barnstead has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Mason | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357Highest |
1,451Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Mason and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319Highest 10% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Mason 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham and Mason 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | — | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Mason School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.