Compare towns
Barnstead vs Gilmanton vs Strafford 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).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
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 | Gilmanton | Strafford | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,026Lowest |
4,306 |
5,980Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Strafford 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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 |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton 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 |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
| Strafford and Barnstead 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 |
$6,235Highest 6% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hillsborough 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% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #25 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Gilmanton School District | Strafford School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.