Compare towns
Wakefield vs Barnstead vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | Wakefield | Barnstead | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
4,994 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Wakefield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 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 | $100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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 |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest 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 | 7.2% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Wakefield 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Barnstead School District | Strafford 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 |
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.