Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Wilder vs Barnstead vs Henniker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Henniker has the youngest population (median age 31.1).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wilder | Barnstead | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
3,087Lowest |
4,994 |
6,197Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 5% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Barnstead 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49k 7% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 15% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 86% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Henniker 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 | — | #111 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | — | Barnstead School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.