Compare towns
Strafford vs Laconia vs Barnstead
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).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Laconia | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
17,085Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
45.3±3.9 5% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Strafford and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia 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 NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest 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 |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| 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 6% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% 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 | $6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Laconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Laconia 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Laconia School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Laconia High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.