Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Athol vs Epsom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Epsom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Athol | Epsom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105Lowest |
12,011Highest |
4,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.1±3.4Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epsom and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epsom 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±$14k 8% below U.S. |
$69,316±$5kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$97,941±$13kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Epsom and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$338,400±$19kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Epsom and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,212±$437 14% below U.S. |
| Pittsfield and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,694 83% above U.S. |
$3,403Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,210Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
71.2%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epsom and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epsom 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #69 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Athol-Royalston | Epsom School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— |
| 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.