The Town FilesBarnstead, New Hampshire
Town in Belknap County · population 4,915 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $362,400
- Household income
- $111,660
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 42.8
Barnstead is a town of 4,915 people in Belknap County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $362,400, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650).
How Barnstead ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Barnstead is worth $362,400, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $111,660, which is more affordable than 83% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,395 a month. 93.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Barnstead | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $362,400 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,395 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $111,660 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 93.6% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 22.1% | — |
Who lives in Barnstead
| People | Barnstead | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.8 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.6% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.9% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 13.0% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.4% | 92.5% |
Weather in Barnstead
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 58.3 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnstead since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 24, 2008 about 3.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 9 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2008.
Severe weather in Belknap County since 1996
Belknap County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4693: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Belknap County
Belknap County had 25,854 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,999 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Barnstead itself the ACS puts it at 2.9%.
Public schools in Barnstead
1 public school with 483 students, about 11.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstead Elementary School | PK-8 | 483 | 11.5 |
Towns near Barnstead
- Pittsfield, NH4.9 mi · 4,075 people · home $294,800
- Strafford, NH6.7 mi · 4,230 people · home $427,900
- Gilmanton, NH7.9 mi · 3,945 people · home $363,700
- New Durham, NH9.5 mi · 2,693 people · home $339,400
- Chichester, NH9.6 mi · 2,665 people · home $409,300
- Northwood, NH9.6 mi · 4,641 people · home $363,000
- Alton, NH9.7 mi · 5,894 people · home $430,400
- Farmington, NH9.8 mi · 6,722 people · home $289,200
Barnstead questions
Is Barnstead, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Barnstead scores better for retirees than 13% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 66%. 20.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.8).
How much does a house cost in Barnstead?
The median owner-occupied home in Barnstead is valued at $362,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $111,660, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,395 a month.
What is the weather like in Barnstead?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 58.3 inches of snow.
Does Barnstead get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Barnstead since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)