Compare towns
Barnstead vs Plaistow 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%).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k 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 | Plaistow | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
7,861Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±5.1 4% below NH |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest 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%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| Barnstead and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Plaistow and Barnstead 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Plaistow 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.