Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Plaistow vs Deering vs Bradford
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%).
Bradford has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Plaistow | Deering | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
7,861Highest |
1,938 |
1,565Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
48.8±5.7 13% above NH |
50.3±5.2Highest 16% above NH |
| Bradford and Deering 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%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bradford 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%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bradford and Deering 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
31% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest 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% |
1.9%±1.2 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 |
$108,015±$21k 9% above NH |
| Plaistow and Bradford 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 |
$341,700±$38k 15% below NH |
| Plaistow and Bradford 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
$1,507±$206 about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Bradford 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 |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$6,223 7% below NH |
$6,307 5% 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% |
41.1%±22.4 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% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
85.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 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 |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bradford 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Kearsarge Regional 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 |
— | — |
| 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.