Compare towns
Strafford vs Gilmanton vs Barnstead vs Epsom
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 people working from home (15.9%).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Gilmanton | Barnstead | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,306 |
4,026Lowest |
4,994Highest |
4,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
| Epsom 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% |
17.5%±6.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Epsom 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% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epsom 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 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±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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 |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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 |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,212±$437 19% below NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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 |
$6,235Highest 6% below NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,210 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Epsom 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Gilmanton School District | Barnstead School District | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.