Compare towns

Barnstead vs Upton 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%).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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.

MeasureBarnsteadUptonPittsfield
People
Population
4,994
8,189Highest
4,105Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.8±3.1
10% above U.S.
46.4±4.8Highest
19% above U.S.
41.5±5.1Lowest
7% above U.S.
Upton 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%
23.2%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Upton and Barnstead 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%
20.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Upton 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%
53.5%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%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
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±$12k
38% above U.S.
$155,508±$33kHighest
93% above U.S.
$74,318±$14kLowest
8% below U.S.
Upton 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
9% above U.S.
$576,700±$41kHighest
73% above U.S.
$294,800±$30kLowest
11% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,395±$75Highest
about the U.S. average
$948±$599Lowest
33% 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
$6,003
92% above U.S.
$8,376Highest
169% above U.S.
$5,694Lowest
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.6%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±31
U.S.: 51.1%
67.5%±27.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pittsfield and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
68.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
35 minHighest
34% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
13%±4.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Upton 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 #46 of 282 in MA #93 of 120 in NH
School district Barnstead School District Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton Pittsfield School District
High school in town None in town Blackstone Valley Pittsfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
—
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.