Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Hillsborough vs Gilmanton
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).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
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 | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,357 |
5,980Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% 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 |
45±4.4Highest 4% above NH |
| Gilmanton and Barnstead 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% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 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%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Nottingham 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 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 |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Nottingham and Gilmanton 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 |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% 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 |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,235 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 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% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest 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 |
1981 2 yrs newer 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 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest 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 | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Gilmanton 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 | 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.