Compare towns
Strafford vs Plainfield 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 oldest population (median age 46.3).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 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 | Plainfield | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
2,522Lowest |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest 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±$22k 23% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Plainfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 10% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Plainfield and Strafford 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 |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Plainfield School District | 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 |
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.