Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hooksett vs Pittsfield vs Gilmanton
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
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 | Hooksett | Pittsfield | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
15,057Highest |
4,105 |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±5.1 4% below NH |
45±4.4Highest 4% above NH |
| Gilmanton 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Hooksett and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
| Hooksett and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Hooksett and Barnstead 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 |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hooksett School District | Pittsfield School District | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.