Compare towns
Strafford vs Deerfield vs Barnstead vs Farmington
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).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Farmington has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Deerfield | Barnstead | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
4,932 |
4,994 |
6,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
| Farmington and Strafford 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% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4 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% |
47.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$22k 23% above NH |
$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
| Deerfield 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±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$289,200±$47kLowest 28% below NH |
| Strafford and Deerfield 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 |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
| Strafford and Deerfield 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 |
$7,369Highest 11% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 28% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #106 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Deerfield School District | Barnstead School District | Farmington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Farmington Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 5.5 |
| 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.