Compare towns
Henniker vs Bow vs South Berwick vs Weare
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Bow | South Berwick | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
8,335 |
7,670 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Weare and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 185% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare and Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Bow School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Marshwood High School | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.