What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sharon has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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	Sharon	Barnstead
People
Population	1,577Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S.	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Sharon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5 U.S.: 22%	21%±5 U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sharon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S.	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S.	$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average
	Barnstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S.	$6,003Highest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Barnstead and Sharon 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	—	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Sharon School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.