Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hardwick vs Ware 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Hardwick | Ware | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
2,684Lowest |
10,048Highest |
4,105 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hardwick and Ware 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% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$74,318±$14k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182 12% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% above U.S. |
$5,694 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Ware 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% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead and Ware 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Quabbin | Ware | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
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| 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.