Compare towns

Barnstead vs Danvers 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 most homeowners (93.6%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k median).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadDanversPittsfield
People
Population
4,994
28,098Highest
4,105Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
45.3±3Highest
16% above U.S.
41.5±5.1Lowest
7% above U.S.
Danvers and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2Lowest
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%
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Danvers 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
22.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3Lowest
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±$12k
38% above U.S.
$125,395±$10kHighest
55% above U.S.
$74,318±$14kLowest
8% below U.S.
Danvers and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,400±$25k
9% above U.S.
$644,200±$23kHighest
94% above U.S.
$294,800±$30kLowest
11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
$2,076±$192Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,239±$182Lowest
12% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,003
92% above U.S.
$6,654Highest
113% above U.S.
$5,694Lowest
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
67.5%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pittsfield and Danvers 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%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Danvers 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 #91 of 282 in MA #93 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Pittsfield School District
High school in town None in town Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School Pittsfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8
—
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.