Compare towns
Ashland vs Henniker 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
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ashland | Henniker | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
6,197Highest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
| Ashland and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$95,206±$21kHighest 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
| Henniker and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$356,700±$49kHighest 11% below NH |
$272,300±$16k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,198±$390Highest 20% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Henniker and Hillsborough 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 | — | #56 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Henniker School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.