Compare towns
Barnstead vs Chester 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 most kids (21% under 18).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Chester | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,300Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
| Chester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 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%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$12k 13% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
— | $1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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 |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Chester School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| 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.