Compare towns

Pittsfield vs Hampton Beach 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 most affordable homes ($295k median).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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.

MeasurePittsfieldHampton BeachBarnstead
People
Population
4,105
2,605Lowest
4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±5.1Lowest
4% below NH
60.4±2.4Highest
39% above NH
42.8±3.1
about the NH average
Kids under 18
20.8%±6
NH: 18.2%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5Highest
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%±4.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
33.7%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
34%Highest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.1
NH: 6%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
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
$82,557±$17k
17% below NH
$111,660±$12kHighest
13% above NH
Barnstead and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$30kLowest
27% below NH
$508,900±$76kHighest
26% above NH
$362,400±$25k
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,239±$182Lowest
17% below NH
$1,375±$130
8% below NH
$1,395±$75Highest
6% below NH
Barnstead and Hampton Beach 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
$6,115Highest
8% below NH
$6,003
10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.5%±27.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±20.2
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Pittsfield and Hampton Beach 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%
8.2%
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.8%
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
25 minLowest
5% below NH
31 minHighest
16% above NH
Work from home
11.6%±5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.9%±6.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #93 of 120 in NH — #111 of 120 in NH
School district Pittsfield School District — Barnstead School District
High school in town Pittsfield High School — None in town
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.