What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has the most people working from home (17.1%).

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	Webster	Barnstead
People
Population	2,227Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Webster and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Webster and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Barnstead and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH	$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH
	Barnstead and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH
	Barnstead and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,396±$622Highest 6% below NH	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH
	Webster and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,021Highest 10% below NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Webster and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96%Highest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 14% above NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Webster 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	—	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Merrimack Valley 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.