Compare towns
Barnstead vs Loudon 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%).
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Loudon | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,692Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Loudon 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 NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| Barnstead and Loudon 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 |
$363,400±$48kHighest 10% below NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Loudon and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4Lowest 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 14% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| 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.