What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Plaistow	Barnstead
People
Population	7,861Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average
	Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
	Plaistow and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Plaistow and Barnstead 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	#66 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.