Compare towns
Henniker vs Eliot vs Hillsborough vs Plaistow
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%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Henniker | Eliot | Hillsborough | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
7,146 |
5,980Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.9±4.6 5% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hillsborough 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$84,495±$12kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$272,300±$16kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,198±$390 15% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,815 86% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hillsborough 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #97 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
| 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.