Compare towns
Strafford vs Gilmanton vs Hillsborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Gilmanton has the shortest commute (33 min average).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Strafford | Gilmanton | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
4,026Lowest |
5,980Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
| Strafford and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$6,235Highest 6% below NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
33 minLowest 23% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | Gilmanton School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| 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.