Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Hooksett vs Atkinson 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Hooksett | Atkinson | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
15,057Highest |
7,267 |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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 |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Hooksett and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,918Highest 4% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Hillsborough 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.