Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Orange 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Orange | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105Lowest |
7,573Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest 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±$14k 8% below U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182 12% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,694 83% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.