Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Hartford 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).
Hartford has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Hartford | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980 |
10,736Highest |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 86% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hillsborough and Hartford 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Hartford School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
9.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.