Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Ashland vs Whitefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the most renters (55.9% rent).
Ashland has the most people working from home (9.9%).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Pittsfield | Ashland | Whitefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,744Lowest |
2,183 |
2,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±4.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
51.4±4.6Highest 19% above NH |
| Whitefield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±7.9 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±7.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Whitefield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±4.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Whitefield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $60,144±$20k 39% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$63,125±$12kHighest 36% below NH |
| Whitefield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,100±$47kHighest 32% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$240,400±$22k 40% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,236±$216Highest 17% below NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,077±$160Lowest 28% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,864 27% below NH |
$4,961Highest 26% below NH |
$4,394Lowest 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66%±30.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 44.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 27 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1965 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.7%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Ashland 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 | #93 of 120 in NH | — | #86 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Ashland School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | White Mountains Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.9 |
| 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.