Compare towns
Henniker vs Epping vs Strafford vs Pembroke
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%).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% 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 | Epping | Strafford | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
7,430 |
4,306Lowest |
7,438Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Strafford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Strafford and Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Epping and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Pembroke 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Epping School District | Strafford School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.