Compare towns
Henniker vs Auburn vs Plaistow vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Auburn has the most people working from home (26.5%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Henniker | Auburn | Plaistow | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
6,119Lowest |
7,861 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+20% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Auburn and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Henniker 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Auburn School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| 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.