Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Walpole vs Canaan vs Chichester
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).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,105Highest |
3,690 |
3,811 |
2,745Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest 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 |
43±3.3 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% |
20.3%±4.4 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%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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±$16k 17% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$109,297±$13kHighest 10% above NH |
| Chichester and Walpole 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 |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$409,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,239±$182 17% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$7,189Highest 8% above 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% |
55.6%±34.4 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
19%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chichester and Canaan 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 | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
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| 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.