Compare towns
Durham vs Hillsborough vs Hopkinton vs Newington
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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Hopkinton | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
5,980 |
6,037 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Hopkinton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Hopkinton 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% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Durham 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Hopkinton School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
12.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.