Compare towns
Wilder vs Barnstead vs Jaffrey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Barnstead has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Wilder | Barnstead | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
4,994 |
5,448Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9 10% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead and Wilder 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 | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Barnstead School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 21.3 |
| 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.