Compare towns
Barnstead vs Athol 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
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 | Athol | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
12,011Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1 7% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Athol 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% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest 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. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$74,318±$14k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182 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. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$5,694 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Athol 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% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Athol-Royalston | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Athol High | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
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| 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.