Compare towns

Hillsborough 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).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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.

MeasureHillsboroughPlaistowDeering
People
Population
5,980
7,861Highest
1,938Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-0.4%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.9±4.6
6% below NH
40.1±3.7Lowest
7% below NH
48.8±5.7Highest
13% above NH
Deering and Hillsborough 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%
19.8%±4.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.3%±4.3Lowest
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%±3.9Lowest
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%
34.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
31%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
1.6%±1.1Lowest
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±$12kLowest
15% below NH
$108,317±$13kHighest
9% above NH
$101,250±$16k
about the NH average
Plaistow 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
$404,500±$32kHighest
about the NH average
$309,900±$27k
23% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$390Lowest
20% below NH
$1,664±$187Highest
12% above NH
$1,306±$116
12% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,815Lowest
13% below NH
$7,194Highest
8% above NH
$6,223
7% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±23.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
55.3%±16.9
NH: 48.2%
23.9%±27.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hillsborough and Plaistow 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%
14.3%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
78.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1978Highest
1 yr older than NH
1977
2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
41 minHighest
54% above NH
29 minLowest
7% above NH
40 min
49% above NH
Work from home
14%±5.2Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.6%±4
NH: 16.8%
10%±2.7Lowest
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 —
High school in town Hillsboro-Deering High School Timberlane Regional High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5Lowest
11.4Highest
—
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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.