Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Pembroke vs Barnstead 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).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Pembroke | Barnstead | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
7,438Highest |
4,994 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
| Deering and Barnstead 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Deering 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% |
32.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
31% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Pembroke 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 |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$101,250±$16k about the NH average |
| Barnstead and Deering 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 |
$371,500±$20kHighest 8% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$309,900±$27k 23% below NH |
| Pembroke and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
| Barnstead and Deering 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 |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$6,223 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
40 min 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District | Barnstead School District | — |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.