Compare towns
Barnstead vs Henniker 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
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Barnstead | Henniker | Hillsborough | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
6,197 |
5,980 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Barnstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Barnstead and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest 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 | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Henniker 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Henniker School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.