Compare towns
Barnstead vs Mapleton vs Pittsfield vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Pittsfield | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
1,884Lowest |
4,105 |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Barnstead 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Mapleton 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 38% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,694 83% above U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alton 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 | — | #93 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Pittsfield School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.