Compare towns
Webster vs Barnstead vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k 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 | Webster | Barnstead | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227 |
4,994Highest |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43.5±5.7 about the NH average |
| Webster and Middleton 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%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2Lowest 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%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$101,696±$8kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$30k 16% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% 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±$622 6% below NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
| Middleton and Webster 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 |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,504Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Webster 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% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 14% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Webster and Middleton 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 | Middleton 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.