Compare towns

Pittsfield vs Barnstead vs Northfield

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 (31.2% rent).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

MeasurePittsfieldBarnsteadNorthfield
People
Population
4,105Lowest
4,994Highest
4,971
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+0.9%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±5.1Lowest
4% below NH
42.8±3.1Highest
about the NH average
42.6±5.1
about the NH average
Barnstead and Northfield 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%±4.9Lowest
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%±4.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Barnstead and Pittsfield 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%
30.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
23.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.1Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
5.1%±2.5
NH: 6%
Barnstead and Northfield 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
$111,660±$12kHighest
13% above NH
$92,917±$15k
6% below NH
Barnstead and Northfield 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±$25kHighest
10% below NH
$288,500±$33kLowest
28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,239±$182
17% below NH
$1,395±$75Highest
6% below NH
$1,076±$182Lowest
28% below NH
Barnstead 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
$6,003Highest
10% below NH
$5,097Lowest
24% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.5%±27.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
24.1%±14.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Pittsfield and Barnstead 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%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.1%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
71.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
1979Lowest
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
16% above NH
26 minLowest
4% below NH
Work from home
11.6%±5
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
6.9%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Barnstead 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 #111 of 120 in NH #109 of 120 in NH
School district Pittsfield School District Barnstead School District Winnisquam Regional 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

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.