Compare towns

Barnstead vs Jaffrey 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%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).

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.

MeasureBarnsteadJaffreyPittsfield
People
Population
4,994
5,448Highest
4,105Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-2.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
-0.8%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
42.9±3.9Highest
about the NH average
41.5±5.1Lowest
4% below NH
Jaffrey and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5
NH: 18.2%
23.1%±5.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
20.8%±6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Jaffrey 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
NH: 20.1%
18.5%±3.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±4.6
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%
31.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
22.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
3.1%±2.4Lowest
NH: 6%
4.5%±3.1
NH: 6%
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±$12kHighest
13% above NH
$92,330±$18k
7% below NH
$74,318±$14kLowest
25% below NH
Barnstead and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,400±$25kHighest
10% below NH
$245,500±$27kLowest
39% below NH
$294,800±$30k
27% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Highest
6% below NH
$962±$202Lowest
35% below NH
$1,239±$182
17% below NH
Barnstead and Pittsfield 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
$6,196Highest
7% below NH
$5,694Lowest
15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
45.7%±23Lowest
NH: 48.2%
67.5%±27.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
Pittsfield and Barnstead 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%
3.8%
NH: 7.2%
11.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
81.8%
NH: 72.8%
68.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
13%±4.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
7.5%±4.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
11.6%±5
NH: 16.8%
Barnstead and Pittsfield 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 #87 of 120 in NH #93 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District Pittsfield School District
High school in town None in town Conant Middle High School (H) Pittsfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
21.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.