Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hillsborough vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Hillsborough | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,980 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.9±4.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Townsend 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 38% above U.S. |
$84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$5,815Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.