Compare towns
Barnstead vs Northwood vs Strafford 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 the most kids (21% under 18).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Northwood | Strafford | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
4,688 |
4,306 |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
| Strafford 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% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood 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% NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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 |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| Northwood and Strafford 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 |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
| Strafford 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 |
$5,806 13% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Pittsfield 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Strafford 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Strafford School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| 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.