Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Eliot vs Barnstead vs Jaffrey
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Barnstead | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
7,146Highest |
4,994Lowest |
5,448 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
42.9±3.9 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Jaffrey 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$92,330±$18k 14% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25k 9% above U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 15% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 86% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #111 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Barnstead School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 21.3Highest |
| 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.