Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Walpole vs Barnstead 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 youngest population (median age 41.5).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Walpole | Barnstead | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,105 |
3,690Lowest |
4,994Highest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Walpole and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole 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 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Barnstead 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% |
32.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead 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 |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Barnstead 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 |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Barnstead and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182 17% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| 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 15% below NH |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Walpole 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% |
11.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Barnstead School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.