Compare towns
Strafford vs Eliot 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 highest household income ($122k).
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
7,146Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 51% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above 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±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Strafford 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Eliot 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 |
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.