Compare towns
Strafford vs Castleton vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
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.
| Measure | Strafford | Castleton | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
4,453 |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Castleton and Barnstead 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.