Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hampton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
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 | Barnstead | Hampton | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,426Highest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Hampton 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 |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Barnstead and Hampton 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$6,813Highest about the NH average |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.