Compare towns
Winchester vs Middlesex vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).
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 | Winchester | Middlesex | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,212Highest |
1,943Lowest |
4,105 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.5 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.5±5.1Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,723±$11kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$74,318±$14k 8% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,900±$20kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$294,800±$30k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,209±$143Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,239±$182 12% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,314Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,694 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.5%±27.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pittsfield and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #120 of 120 in NH | — | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winchester School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.