Compare towns
Barnstead vs Durham vs Hillsborough vs Fremont
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Fremont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Barnstead | Durham | Hillsborough | Fremont |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
15,080Highest |
5,980 |
4,831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
44.3±3.4Highest about the NH average |
| Fremont and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.4%±5.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Fremont and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$120,781±$18k 22% above NH |
| Durham and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$416,900±$31k 4% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,668±$795Highest 79% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,954 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
94.2%±5.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #91 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Fremont School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.