Compare towns

Stratham vs Barnstead vs Newfields

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

MeasureStrathamBarnsteadNewfields
People
Population
7,754Highest
4,994
2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.6±4.9Lowest
4% below NH
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
44.1±1.8Highest
about the NH average
Newfields and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Stratham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
68.1%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2Highest
NH: 6%
Newfields and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$151,998±$20k
53% above NH
$111,660±$12kLowest
13% above NH
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$362,400±$25kLowest
10% below NH
$646,400±$34k
61% above NH
Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,395±$75Lowest
6% below NH
$1,875±$323
26% above NH
Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,781
47% above NH
$6,003Lowest
10% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Stratham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
16% above NH
26 minLowest
4% below NH
Work from home
25.3%±6.6
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
Newfields and Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #111 of 120 in NH —
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Barnstead School District Newfields 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.