The Town FilesHillsborough, New Hampshire
Town in Hillsborough County · population 5,939 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $272,300
- Household income
- $84,495
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 40.9
Hillsborough is a town of 5,939 people in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $272,300, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 89% of New Hampshire towns, quieter than 71% of New Hampshire towns.
- #11 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Hampshire
- #16 in The 25 Quietest Small Towns in New Hampshire
- #20 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Hampshire
- #22 in 25 Small Towns in New Hampshire With the Cheapest Homes
- #46 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Families in America
- #48 in The 50 Best Places for Young Families in America
How Hillsborough ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Hillsborough is worth $272,300, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $84,495, which is more affordable than 83% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,198 a month. 92.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hillsborough | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $272,300 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,198 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $84,495 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 92.3% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.9% | — |
Who lives in Hillsborough
| People | Hillsborough | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.9 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.7% | — |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 41.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 92.5% |
Weather in Hillsborough
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 11.7°F. About 49.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 68.0 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 176 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsborough since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 31, 1998 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 4, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 20 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 9, 2011.
Severe weather in Hillsborough County since 1996
Hillsborough County has been included in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| March 25, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4209: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County had 201,342 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $79,660 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Hillsborough itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Hillsborough
3 public schools with 1,045 students, about 10.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsboro-Deering Elementary School | PK-5 | 449 | 11.0 |
| Hillsboro-Deering High School | 9-12 | 376 | 11.4 |
| Hillsboro-Deering Middle School | 6-8 | 220 | 10.0 |
Towns near Hillsborough
- Henniker, NH6.2 mi · 6,185 people · home $356,700
- Antrim, NH6.8 mi · 2,651 people · home $298,800
- Henniker, NH7.1 mi · 3,166 people · home $296,400
- Warner, NH11.2 mi · 2,937 people · home $353,100
- Weare, NH13.3 mi · 9,092 people · home $396,300
- Hopkinton, NH13.4 mi · 5,914 people · home $506,900
- Dunbarton, NH17.5 mi · 3,005 people · home $484,100
- Peterborough, NH17.7 mi · 6,418 people · home $404,500
Hillsborough questions
Is Hillsborough, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hillsborough scores better for retirees than 7% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 71%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.9).
How much does a house cost in Hillsborough?
The median owner-occupied home in Hillsborough is valued at $272,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,495, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,198 a month.
What is the weather like in Hillsborough?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 11.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.5 inches of precipitation a year and 68.0 inches of snow.
Does Hillsborough get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Hillsborough since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 31, 1998. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)