Compare towns
Barnstead vs Northwood vs Hillsborough vs Danville
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 the shortest commute (31 min average).
Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Danville has the most expensive homes ($438k 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 | Northwood | Hillsborough | Danville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,688 |
5,980Highest |
4,531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
42±4 3% below NH |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.6%±7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Danville 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% |
21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Northwood 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% NH: 40.6% |
38.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Northwood 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 |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$115,104±$21k 16% above NH |
| Northwood and Danville 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 |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$437,600±$26kHighest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,144±$867Highest 44% above NH |
| Danville and Barnstead 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 |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
$8,504Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
70.2%±61.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Danville and Hillsborough 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
89%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
37 min 37% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
35 min 30% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #40 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.