Compare towns
Henniker vs Durham vs Portsmouth vs Plymouth
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 highest household income ($124k).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Durham | Portsmouth | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
15,080 |
22,545Highest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Henniker and Portsmouth 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Portsmouth 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% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Portsmouth School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Portsmouth High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.