Compare towns

Hillsborough vs Keene vs Newington

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 kids (17.4% under 18).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

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.

MeasureHillsboroughKeeneNewington
People
Population
5,980
22,939Highest
939Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.9±4.6
6% below NH
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
48.7±10.1Highest
12% above NH
Newington and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
15.7%±4.9
NH: 18.2%
Hillsborough and Newington 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%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
28%±11Highest
NH: 20.1%
Newington and Keene 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%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
62.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.8
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,495±$12k
15% below NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
$145,833±$46kHighest
47% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,300±$16k
32% below NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
$861,600±$46kHighest
114% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$390Lowest
20% below NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
$2,292±$795Highest
54% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,815Lowest
13% below NH
$6,812Highest
about the NH average
$6,081
9% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
62.9%±44Highest
NH: 48.2%
Newington 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%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
41 minHighest
54% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
23 min
13% below NH
Work from home
14%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Keene 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 #81 of 120 in NH —
School district Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District Keene School District Newington School District
High school in town Hillsboro-Deering High School Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
12.3Highest
—
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.