Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Durham vs Norwich 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Norwich | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
15,080Highest |
3,640Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Barnstead 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 86% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Hillsborough 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.