What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampstead	Pittsfield
People
Population	9,102Highest	4,105Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH	41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH
	Hampstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%	20.8%±6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hampstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1%	18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hampstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Hampstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH	$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH	$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,299±$149Highest 13% below NH	$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH
	Hampstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,634Highest 30% above NH	$5,694Lowest 15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Pittsfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	11.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%	11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Hampstead 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	#49 of 120 in NH	#93 of 120 in NH
School district	Hampstead 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

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.