Compare towns

Pittsfield vs Winchester vs Barnstead

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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

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.

MeasurePittsfieldWinchesterBarnstead
People
Population
4,105Lowest
4,212
4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%
NH: +4.6%
-4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±5.1Lowest
4% below NH
42.6±4.5
about the NH average
42.8±3.1Highest
about the NH average
Barnstead and Winchester 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%
18.9%±4.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
21%±5Highest
NH: 18.2%
Barnstead 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%
17.9%±3.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.6%±4.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
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%
NH: 40.6%
20.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
30.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±3.1
NH: 6%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
5.9%±2.9Highest
NH: 6%
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±$14k
25% below NH
$67,723±$11kLowest
32% below NH
$111,660±$12kHighest
13% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$30k
27% below NH
$242,900±$20kLowest
40% below NH
$362,400±$25kHighest
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,239±$182
17% below NH
$1,209±$143Lowest
19% below NH
$1,395±$75Highest
6% 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
$5,314Lowest
20% below NH
$6,003Highest
10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
67.5%±27.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
45%±17.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
47.6%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
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%
NH: 7.2%
14.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
72.7%
NH: 72.8%
93.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1985Highest
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the NH average
29 min
7% above NH
31 minHighest
16% above NH
Work from home
11.6%±5
NH: 16.8%
4.3%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13%±4.5Highest
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 #120 of 120 in NH #111 of 120 in NH
School district Pittsfield School District Winchester School District 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

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.