Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Epsom 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).
Epsom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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.
| Measure | Pittsfield | Epsom | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105 |
4,939Highest |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Epsom 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% |
18.2%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield and Epsom 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% |
20.7%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Epsom 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% |
40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Epsom 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 |
$97,941±$13kHighest about the NH average |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Epsom and Canaan 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 |
$338,400±$19kHighest 16% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Epsom and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182Highest 17% below NH |
$1,212±$437 19% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Epsom 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 |
$6,210Highest 7% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Epsom 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% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Epsom 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 | #69 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Epsom School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.