Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Hanover vs Milton
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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Milton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980 |
11,685Highest |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milton 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover 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% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Milton 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Hanover High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
10.7Highest |
10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.