Compare towns
Strafford vs Barnstead vs Barrington vs Gilmanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
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 | Strafford | Barnstead | Barrington | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306 |
4,994 |
9,489Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Barrington and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,121Highest 7% above NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
87%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Barnstead School District | Barrington School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.