Compare towns
Barnstead vs South Hooksett 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 homeowners (93.6%).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | South Hooksett | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,902Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| South Hooksett and Barnstead 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 |
$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,471±$217Highest about the NH average |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
| South Hooksett 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 |
$6,801Highest about the NH average |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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 | — | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Pittsfield High School |
| 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.