Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Strafford vs Northfield
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 renters (31.2% rent).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Strafford | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105Lowest |
4,306 |
4,971Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Strafford and Northfield 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% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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 NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Northfield 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 |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Strafford and Northfield 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 |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182 17% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Strafford and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,694 15% below NH |
$6,086Highest 9% below NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Pittsfield 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Strafford School District | Winnisquam Regional 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 |
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.