Compare towns
Henniker vs Durham vs Milford 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
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Durham | Milford | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
10,681 |
16,337Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Durham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #56 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | — | Milford School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Milford High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7Lowest |
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.