What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).

Hillsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barnstead	Hillsborough
People
Population	4,994Highest	1,616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average	49.9±16Highest 15% above NH
	Hillsborough 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%	12.2%±5.6Lowest 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%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	32.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hillsborough 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	16.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%	2%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Hillsborough 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	$49,205±$28kLowest 50% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH	$265,200±$51kLowest 34% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH	$1,138±$201Lowest 24% below NH
	Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Highest 10% below NH	$5,437Lowest 18% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	64.8%±22.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hillsborough and Barnstead 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%	10.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1944Lowest 35 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 16% above NH	41 minHighest 55% above NH
Work from home	13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8%	10.2%±7.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Barnstead 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	#97 of 120 in NH
School district	Barnstead School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.