The population of Center Barnstead City is 3,625 people, according to the 2010 Census. This city is the oldest one in the county, and was incorporated in 1727. The name of the city is a reference to the towns of Hempstead and Barnstable in Massachusetts, which were home to the town's original settlers. The town now is comprised of a variety of races and peoples from all over the United States and even other countries.
The city is part of the 6th Senate District and the 2nd Executive Council District. Representatives from Barnstead represent the 1st congressional district. There are only two public schools in the city, Barnstead Elementary School, which serves students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. High school students attend Prospect Mountain High School in neighboring Alton. Barnstead is the sixth largest town in the state.