Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Plaistow vs Sandown vs Windsor
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Windsor has the most kids (25.2% under 18).
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 | Sandown | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
7,861Highest |
6,628 |
254Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
40.2±18.8 7% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Sandown 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% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
25.2%±14.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windsor and Sandown 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%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.7%±8 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% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
12.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±4.2 NH: 6% |
| Sandown and Windsor 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 |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$103,750±$40k 5% above NH |
| Sandown 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±$32k about the NH average |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$337,500±$40k 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
— |
| Sandown and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$3,381Lowest 49% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windsor and Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 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 |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15%±16.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Windsor 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane 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.