Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Alton vs Strafford
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 affordable homes ($295k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Alton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105Lowest |
5,994Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Alton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,694 15% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 24% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Alton 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.