Compare towns
Strafford vs Brookline vs Barnstead
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 oldest population (median age 46.3).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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.
| Measure | Strafford | Brookline | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
5,736Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest 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% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Brookline School District | Barnstead 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.