Compare towns
Barnstead vs Durham vs Nottingham 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
Barnstead has the oldest population (median age 42.8).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Nottingham | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
15,080Highest |
5,357 |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Nottingham 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% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Durham and Nottingham 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 |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Durham and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham and Durham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| 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.