Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Somersworth vs Hopkinton 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).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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 | Somersworth | Hopkinton | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
12,111Highest |
6,037 |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton 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% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Somersworth 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Hopkinton 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% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Barnstead 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Barnstead 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 |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
| Somersworth and Barnstead 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 |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District | Hopkinton School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Somersworth High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
12.0Highest |
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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.