Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hanover 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
11,685Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.5±5.1 4% below NH |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Hanover 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Hanover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.