Compare towns
Barnstead vs Needham 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 the most homeowners (93.6%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
40.9±4.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Needham 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% |
81.9%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% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,815Lowest 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Needham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | — | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school 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.