Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Hillsborough vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Hopkinton | Hillsborough | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,037 |
5,980Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.