Compare towns

Barnstead vs Sidney 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 highest household income ($112k).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
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.

MeasureBarnsteadSidneyPittsfield
People
Population
4,994Highest
4,790
4,105Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
43±5.5Highest
11% above U.S.
41.5±5.1Lowest
7% above U.S.
Sidney and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±5
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney 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
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%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%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
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.
$83,488±$10k
3% above U.S.
$74,318±$14kLowest
8% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,400±$25kHighest
9% above U.S.
$336,200±$34k
about the U.S. average
$294,800±$30kLowest
11% below U.S.
Barnstead and Sidney 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
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
$1,239±$182Lowest
12% below U.S.
Barnstead and Sidney 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.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
$5,694
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.5%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pittsfield and Barnstead 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%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sidney 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 #15 of 133 in ME #93 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District RSU 18 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.