Compare towns
Henniker vs Eliot vs Plaistow vs New Ipswich
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).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% 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 | Plaistow | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
7,146 |
7,861Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
36.9±2.4 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
29.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$110,507±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| New Ipswich 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 7% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$392,400±$31k 18% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164 23% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$882±$469Lowest 38% below 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. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$5,647 81% 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% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±41.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.8Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.