Compare towns
Barnstead vs Alton vs Pittsfield vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Alton | Pittsfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,994Highest |
4,105Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton 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% NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Alton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
— | $1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,694 15% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Alton 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Pittsfield School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Pittsfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.