Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Mapleton 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 people working from home (14%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Mapleton | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Barnstead 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnstead and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Mapleton 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 5% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 15% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.