Compare towns
Barnstead vs Bristol vs Pittsfield
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 highest household income ($112k).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Pittsfield has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Bristol | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
3,273Lowest |
4,105 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
| Barnstead and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Barnstead 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% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol 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% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
| 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 13% above NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$294,800±$30k 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
| Barnstead and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$5,694 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Barnstead 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% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Bristol 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Newfound Area School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newfound Regional High School | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.