Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Walpole vs Canaan
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105Highest |
3,690Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Walpole and Canaan 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% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Canaan 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% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan 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 |
$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Walpole and Canaan 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±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Walpole and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182Highest 17% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Walpole 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 |
$6,078Highest 9% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan 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 | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.