Compare towns
Barnstead vs Putney 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
2,622Lowest |
5,980Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
40.9±4.6 5% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough 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% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Putney 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% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,495±$12k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,198±$390 15% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$5,815 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school 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 History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.