Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter 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 most kids (21% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Barnstead | Exeter | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Barnstead and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.