Compare towns
Franconia vs Henniker 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
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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 | Franconia | Henniker | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
6,197 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Plaistow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Franconia and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Henniker and Plaistow 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 | — | #56 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | Henniker School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.