Compare towns
Barnstead vs Acton vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Acton has the most people working from home (18.2%).
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).
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 | Barnstead | Acton | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
2,721Lowest |
4,105 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15k about the U.S. average |
$74,318±$14kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34k about the U.S. average |
$294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,239±$182Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$5,694 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Barnstead 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Acton Public Schools | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.