Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Durham vs Hillsborough vs Barnstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.1%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Hillsborough | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
15,080Highest |
1,616Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.9±16Highest 15% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead 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% |
12.2%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead 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% |
32.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$49,205±$28kLowest 50% below NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16k 32% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$265,200±$51kLowest 34% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,138±$201Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Durham and Barnstead 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,437Lowest 18% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
64.8%±22.9 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest 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% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1944Lowest 35 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 min 54% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
41 minHighest 55% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.2%±7.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.