Compare towns

Strafford vs Underhill 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 highest household income ($122k).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
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.

MeasureStraffordUnderhillBarnstead
People
Population
4,306
3,141Lowest
4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.3±2.1Highest
19% above U.S.
38.1±11.4Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
27.8%±10.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
Underhill 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%
17.6%±6Lowest
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%
50.1%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%
3.5%±2Lowest
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.
$92,267±$54kLowest
14% 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±$29k
29% above U.S.
$446,000±$24kHighest
34% above U.S.
$362,400±$25kLowest
9% above U.S.
Underhill and Strafford 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.
—
$1,395±$75Lowest
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.
$6,697Highest
115% 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%±18.2Lowest
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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
33 min
24% above U.S.
31 minLowest
18% above U.S.
Work from home
15.9%±5
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Underhill 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 #2 of 70 in VT #111 of 120 in NH
School district Strafford School District Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 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.