Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Durham vs Bedford
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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
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 | Hillsborough | Durham | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980Lowest |
15,080 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #97 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.3 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.