Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Dover vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Milton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980 |
33,364Highest |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$94,829±$7kHighest 4% below NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Dover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Dover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 13% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton and Dover 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 | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Dover School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Dover Senior High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.7Highest |
10.6 |
| 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.