Compare towns
Strafford vs Middlesex 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 most expensive homes ($428k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
1,943Lowest |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%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% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% 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±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| 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 95% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.