Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Weare vs Somersworth 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).
Weare has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Weare | Somersworth | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
9,170 |
12,111Highest |
4,538Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.7±2.4Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Weare 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hillsborough and Milton 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% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Weare 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 |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$94,493±$27k 5% below NH |
| Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$318,400±$34k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
| Milton and Weare 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 |
$6,272 6% below NH |
$6,805Highest about the NH average |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Somersworth School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | John Stark Regional High School | Somersworth High School | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
11.4Highest |
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.