What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Wakefield	Barnstead
People
Population	5,405Highest	4,994Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Wakefield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH
	Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,954Lowest 56% below NH	$6,003Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.8%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 34% above NH	31 minLowest 16% above NH
Work from home	15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Wakefield and Barnstead 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	#118 of 120 in NH	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Wakefield School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.