Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Bristol vs Barnstead
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 youngest population (median age 41.5).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Bristol | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105 |
3,273Lowest |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Barnstead and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Barnstead 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% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest 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±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$78,438±$10k 21% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$30k 27% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
| Barnstead and Bristol 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 |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 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% |
10.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Bristol 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Newfound Area School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | Newfound Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— |
| 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.