Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Wilder vs Milton vs Barnstead
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 youngest population (median age 40.9).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
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 | Milton | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980Highest |
3,087Lowest |
4,538 |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Milton and Wilder 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% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnstead and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 5% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,493±$27k 17% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Barnstead 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 18% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Milton 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±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Milton and Barnstead 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. |
$5,663 82% above U.S. |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Hillsborough 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | — | #116 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | — | Milton School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | — | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
— |
| 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.