Compare towns
Barnstead vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Reading | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
699Lowest |
4,105 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
46%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% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Reading 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. |
$377,200±$72kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Reading and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,694Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.