Compare towns
Barnstead vs Merrimac 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 the most homeowners (93.6%).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
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 | Merrimac | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
6,748Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Barnstead 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% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest 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% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac 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% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Merrimac 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. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$7,399Highest 137% above U.S. |
$5,694Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Merrimac 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Pentucket | 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 |
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.