Compare towns

Waitsfield vs Stratham vs Barnard

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).

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.

MeasureWaitsfieldStrathamBarnard
People
Population
1,918
7,754Highest
1,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.3±5.3Highest
14% above U.S.
41.6±4.9Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.8%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
23.5%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.2%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Waitsfield and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
63.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Stratham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,375±$34kLowest
5% above U.S.
$151,998±$20kHighest
88% above U.S.
$97,581±$19k
21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$422,400±$92k
27% above U.S.
$655,400±$36kHighest
97% above U.S.
$402,600±$71kLowest
21% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,200±$821Lowest
15% below U.S.
$2,511±$377Highest
78% above U.S.
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,208
99% above U.S.
$9,781Highest
214% above U.S.
$6,038Lowest
94% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.4%±30.6
U.S.: 51.1%
64%±38.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27%±19.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Stratham and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
Work from home
19%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.3%±6.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±10.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Stratham and Barnard 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 —
School district Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
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

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.