Compare towns

Hillsborough vs Plaistow vs Allenstown

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 homeowners (92.3%).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
Allenstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

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.

MeasureHillsboroughPlaistowAllenstown
People
Population
5,980
7,861Highest
4,743Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
+8.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.9±4.6Highest
6% below NH
40.1±3.7
7% below NH
39.4±4.7Lowest
9% below NH
Hillsborough and Plaistow 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%
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
Allenstown and Plaistow 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%
17.4%±3.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Plaistow 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%
NH: 40.6%
34.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
19.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
0.7%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Plaistow and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,495±$12k
15% below NH
$108,317±$13kHighest
9% above NH
$72,500±$21kLowest
27% below NH
Plaistow and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,300±$16k
32% below NH
$404,500±$32kHighest
about the NH average
$243,600±$69kLowest
39% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$390Lowest
20% below NH
$1,664±$187Highest
12% above NH
$1,281±$397
14% below NH
Plaistow and Allenstown 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
$7,194Highest
8% above NH
$4,098Lowest
39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±23.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
55.3%±16.9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
57.8%±29.8
NH: 48.2%
Hillsborough and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
NH: 7.2%
4.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.9%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
41 minHighest
54% above NH
29 min
7% above NH
24 minLowest
10% below NH
Work from home
14%±5.2Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.6%±4
NH: 16.8%
7.6%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hillsborough and Plaistow 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 #66 of 120 in NH —
School district Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District Timberlane Regional School District Allenstown School District
High school in town Hillsboro-Deering High School Timberlane Regional High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.4Highest
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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.