Compare towns

Pittsfield vs Barnstead vs Chichester vs Pittsfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Chichester has the most people working from home (19%).
Pittsfield has the most renters (55.9% 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.

MeasurePittsfieldBarnsteadChichesterPittsfield
People
Population
4,105
4,994Highest
2,745
1,744Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.6%
NH: +4.6%
-0.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±5.1
4% below NH
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
43±3.3Highest
about the NH average
41.2±4.9Lowest
5% below NH
Chichester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±6
NH: 18.2%
21%±5Highest
NH: 18.2%
20.3%±4.4
NH: 18.2%
19%±7.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±4.6
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8
NH: 20.1%
17.2%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21%±7.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Pittsfield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%
NH: 40.6%
30.9%
NH: 40.6%
37.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
19.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.1
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
4.7%±4.2
NH: 6%
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
$74,318±$14k
25% below NH
$111,660±$12kHighest
13% above NH
$109,297±$13k
10% above NH
$60,144±$20kLowest
39% below NH
Barnstead and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$30k
27% below NH
$362,400±$25k
10% below NH
$409,300±$26kHighest
about the NH average
$273,100±$47kLowest
32% below NH
Chichester and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,239±$182
17% below NH
$1,395±$75
6% below NH
$2,055±$275Highest
38% above NH
$1,236±$216Lowest
17% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,694
15% below NH
$6,003
10% below NH
$7,189Highest
8% above NH
$4,864Lowest
27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.5%±27.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.6%±34.4
NH: 48.2%
66%±30.5
NH: 48.2%
Pittsfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.3%
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
6%
NH: 7.2%
16.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.8%
NH: 72.8%
93.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
85.6%
NH: 72.8%
44.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1952Lowest
27 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
16% above NH
30 min
13% above NH
26 minLowest
4% below NH
Work from home
11.6%±5
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
19%±8Highest
NH: 16.8%
7.7%±6.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Chichester 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 #93 of 120 in NH #111 of 120 in NH #75 of 120 in NH #93 of 120 in NH
School district Pittsfield School District Barnstead School District Chichester School District —
High school in town Pittsfield High School None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.