Compare towns
Barnstead vs Everett vs Pittsfield vs Strafford
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%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
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 | Everett | Pittsfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
50,045Highest |
4,105Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.5±5.1 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Barnstead 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. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,239±$182Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,694 83% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #93 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Everett | Pittsfield School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Pittsfield High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.