Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Pembroke vs New Ipswich vs Barnstead
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 people working from home (17%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Pembroke | New Ipswich | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
7,438Highest |
5,310 |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Barnstead and Pembroke 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% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough 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% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest 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 |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
| Barnstead and New Ipswich 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±$20k 8% below NH |
$392,400±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| New Ipswich and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
| Barnstead and Pembroke 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 |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Pembroke Academy | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.7 |
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| 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.