Compare towns

Wilder vs Barnstead vs Waterbury

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 homeowners (93.6%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).

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.

MeasureWilderBarnsteadWaterbury
People
Population
3,087Lowest
4,994
5,405Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
42.8±3.1Lowest
10% above U.S.
43.2±3.7
11% above U.S.
Wilder and Waterbury 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%
21.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Waterbury 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%
19.8%±4.4Lowest
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%
54.2%
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%
3.4%±2.8Lowest
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.
$103,917±$23k
29% above U.S.
Barnstead and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$362,400±$25k
9% above U.S.
$447,200±$40kHighest
34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$1,395±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% 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.
$6,435Highest
106% 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%
46.8%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Barnstead and Waterbury 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%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
30 min
14% above U.S.
Work from home
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #111 of 120 in NH #20 of 70 in VT
School district — Barnstead School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 6 photos → 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.