Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Pittsfield vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Nottingham | Pittsfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,357Highest |
4,105Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±5.1 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above 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%±5 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
40.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Nottingham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Nottingham and Strafford 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 |
$7,319Highest 10% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | Pittsfield School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School | None in town |
| 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.