Compare towns
Nottingham vs Sturbridge 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%).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
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.
| Measure | Nottingham | Sturbridge | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357 |
9,960Highest |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%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% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 51% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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±$26kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Sturbridge 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. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% 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. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nottingham and Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.