Compare towns
Barnstead vs Nottingham vs Stratham vs Hillsborough
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 oldest population (median age 42.8).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Nottingham | Stratham | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,357 |
7,754Highest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
| Barnstead and Stratham 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% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Stratham and Nottingham 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±$26k 14% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Stratham and Nottingham 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 |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Stratham 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% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Nottingham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Nottingham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None 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 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.