Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Sidney 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 renters (31.2% rent).
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Sidney | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105Lowest |
4,790 |
4,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Barnstead 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Pittsfield 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% |
33.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $294,800±$30kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Sidney 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | RSU 18 | 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.