Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Hopkinton vs Northfield
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 homeowners (92.3%).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Northfield has the most renters (28.4% rent).
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 | Hopkinton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980 |
6,037Highest |
4,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Hopkinton 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Northfield 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% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Northfield 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 |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,270±$129Highest 15% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Hillsborough 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Hopkinton School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
12.0Highest |
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| 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.