Compare towns
Atkinson 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
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Atkinson | Barnstead | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Highest |
4,994Lowest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Atkinson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,198±$390 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 | $6,918Highest 4% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 6% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Barnstead 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.