Compare towns
Durham vs Hillsborough vs Henniker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most expensive homes ($498k median).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hillsborough | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
5,980Lowest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Henniker and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Durham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH |
1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Henniker 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Henniker School District |
| High school 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 |
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.