Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Exeter 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
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Hillsborough | Exeter | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980 |
16,151Highest |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest 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%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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 15% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
| Barnstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.