Compare towns
Strafford vs Barnstead 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 people working from home (15.9%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
4,994Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
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%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest 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% |
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±$12kLowest 13% 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 |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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 |
$6,235Highest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Barnstead School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.