Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Dover vs Berwick vs Barnstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Hillsborough | Dover | Berwick | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
33,364Highest |
1,998Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 5% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 15% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 86% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Dover School District | — | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Dover Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.