Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Somersworth vs Hopkinton vs Milton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Milton has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
12,111Highest |
6,037 |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Hopkinton 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%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Hopkinton 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%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Somersworth 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 |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Milton 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 |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Somersworth 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 |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% 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 |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 min 25% 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% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District | Hopkinton School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Somersworth High School | Hopkinton High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
12.0Highest |
10.6 |
| 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.