Compare towns
Winchester vs Barnstead vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Boscawen has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Winchester | Barnstead | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,212 |
4,994Highest |
4,044Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.5Lowest about the NH average |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Boscawen and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.7 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,723±$11kLowest 32% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
| Barnstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,900±$20kLowest 40% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$286,500±$23k 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,209±$143Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,265±$307 15% below NH |
| Barnstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,314Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$6,549Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±17.7 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Boscawen 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 | #120 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winchester School District | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley 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.