Compare towns
Madbury vs Hillsborough vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Ashland has the most renters (35.9% 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 | Madbury | Hillsborough | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203 |
5,980Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Madbury and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$272,300±$16k 32% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Madbury and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 5% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #97 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.