Compare towns
Barnstead vs Wakefield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Wakefield | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,405 |
5,980Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
| Wakefield and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield 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% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Barnstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Highest 10% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead 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% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Wakefield School District | 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 Our Story | 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.