Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Plaistow vs Milton 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).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Plaistow | Milton | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
7,861Highest |
4,538Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Milton and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Plaistow 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% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Plaistow 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±$13k 9% above NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
| Barnstead and Plaistow 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 |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Plaistow and Milton 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 |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Hillsborough 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
29 minLowest 7% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Milton School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
10.6 |
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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.