Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Hillsborough vs Alton
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).
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Nottingham | Hillsborough | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,357 |
5,980 |
5,994Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton 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% |
40.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Nottingham and Alton 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 |
$457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Nottingham and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
— |
| Nottingham 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 |
$7,319Highest 10% above NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Hillsborough 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.