Compare towns

Hillsborough vs Eliot vs Barnstead vs Raymond

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).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% 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.

MeasureHillsboroughEliotBarnsteadRaymond
People
Population
5,980
7,146
4,994Lowest
10,900Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%
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.
43.4±3.8
12% above U.S.
Eliot and Raymond 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%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
Barnstead and Raymond 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%±3.3
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%
26.4%
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%
3.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Barnstead and Raymond 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.
$104,597±$10k
30% above U.S.
Barnstead and Raymond 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.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$362,400±$25k
9% above U.S.
$370,400±$17k
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$390Lowest
15% below U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,395±$75
about the U.S. average
$1,376±$196
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,815
86% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
$6,003
92% above U.S.
$6,146Highest
97% 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%
24.1%±11.9Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.7%Highest
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%
85.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer 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.
30 min
13% above 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%
9.4%±3.5Lowest
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 #96 of 120 in NH
School district Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Barnstead School District Raymond School District
High school in town Hillsboro-Deering High School None in town None in town Raymond High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
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11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.