Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Newton vs Plaistow vs Deering
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).
Newton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Deering has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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 | Newton | Plaistow | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
4,836 |
7,861Highest |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
| Deering and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough 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% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
31% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newton and Plaistow 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 |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$101,250±$16k about the NH average |
| Newton and Plaistow 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 |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$309,900±$27k 23% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
| Newton and Plaistow 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 |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,223 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
40 min 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.