Compare towns

Nottingham vs Pepperell vs Barnstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Pepperell has the most renters (15.7% rent).
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.

MeasureNottinghamPepperellBarnstead
People
Population
5,357
11,663Highest
4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.8±6.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
42.8±3.1Highest
10% above U.S.
Barnstead and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.9%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,201±$20k
51% above U.S.
$124,073±$12kHighest
54% above U.S.
$111,660±$12kLowest
38% above U.S.
Pepperell 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
38% above U.S.
$482,100±$14kHighest
45% above U.S.
$362,400±$25kLowest
9% above U.S.
Pepperell 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
46% above U.S.
$1,295±$238Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,319Highest
135% above U.S.
$6,698
115% above U.S.
$6,003Lowest
92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
92.1%±44.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
12 yrs newer than U.S.
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
34 min
28% above U.S.
31 minLowest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
22.2%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Nottingham and Pepperell 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 #153 of 282 in MA #111 of 120 in NH
School district Nottingham School District North Middlesex 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

U.S. 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.