What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Stowe	Barnstead
People
Population	5,285Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.	42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Stowe and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Barnstead and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Barnstead and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.	$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S.	$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average
	Stowe and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.	$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Barnstead and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe 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	—	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Stowe Town School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.