Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Eliot vs Barnstead
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 affordable homes ($295k median).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Eliot | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105Lowest |
7,146Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 8% below U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,694 83% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Barnstead 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 |
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.