Compare towns
Strafford vs Dedham 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 oldest population (median age 46.3).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Dedham | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
25,237Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Dedham 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 51% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Dedham | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.