Compare towns
Barnstead vs Lee vs Hillsborough vs Candia
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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Lee | Hillsborough | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,576 |
5,980Highest |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Barnstead 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Candia 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Lee and Candia 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Lee and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
— | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,213±$554 19% below NH |
| Barnstead and Candia 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
28 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.