Compare towns
Alton vs Barnstead vs Hillsborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Alton | Barnstead | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994Highest |
4,994Lowest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Alton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 24% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hillsborough and Alton 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Barnstead School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.