Compare towns
Strafford vs Needham 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 oldest population (median age 46.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Needham | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306Lowest |
32,459Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest 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±$22k 51% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #73 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Needham | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.