Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Holderness vs Lee 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).
Holderness has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
Milton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Holderness | Lee | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980Highest |
1,917Lowest |
4,576 |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Lee 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% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Milton 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Lee 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% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lee and Hillsborough 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 |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Lee and Holderness 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 |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Lee and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
— | $1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Holderness and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 13% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | — | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 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.