Compare towns

Pittsfield vs Epping vs Canaan

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 kids (20.8% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

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.

MeasurePittsfieldEppingCanaan
People
Population
4,105
7,430Highest
3,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%
NH: +4.6%
+11.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±5.1Lowest
4% below NH
45.1±3.5Highest
4% above NH
44.4±3.7
about the NH average
Epping and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.8%±6Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±4.8
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Pittsfield and Epping 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%
22.6%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.1%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
Epping and Canaan 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%
37%Highest
NH: 40.6%
28.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.1Lowest
NH: 6%
5.1%±3.3
NH: 6%
7%±2.5Highest
NH: 6%
Canaan and Epping 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
$104,220±$7kHighest
5% above NH
$81,583±$6k
18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$30k
27% below NH
$436,900±$35kHighest
9% above NH
$254,000±$26kLowest
37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,239±$182
17% below NH
$1,742±$576Highest
17% above NH
$1,140±$90Lowest
24% below NH
Epping and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,694Lowest
15% below NH
$6,936Highest
4% above NH
$5,985
10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.5%±27.3Lowest
NH: 48.2%
67.8%±25.9
NH: 48.2%
74.4%±25.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
Canaan and Epping 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%
4.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
13.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
77.3%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1989Highest
10 yrs newer than NH
1975Lowest
4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
32 minHighest
21% above NH
30 min
12% above NH
Work from home
11.6%±5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.9%±6
NH: 16.8%
Epping and Canaan 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 #77 of 120 in NH #83 of 120 in NH
School district Pittsfield School District Epping School District Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town Pittsfield High School Epping High School Mascoma Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.3Lowest
10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.