Compare towns
Barnstead vs Middlesex vs Hillsborough
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Middlesex | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
1,943Lowest |
5,980Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.9±4.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Middlesex 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 38% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,815Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school 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 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.