Compare towns

Henniker vs Hampton Falls vs Plaistow vs Somersworth

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%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.

MeasureHennikerHampton FallsPlaistowSomersworth
People
Population
6,197
2,328Lowest
7,861
12,111Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
49.5±7.3Highest
14% above NH
40.1±3.7
7% below NH
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
Hampton Falls and Plaistow 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%
19.1%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Somersworth 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%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
54.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34.9%
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.1
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$166,157±$14kHighest
68% above NH
$108,317±$13k
9% above NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$772,600±$76kHighest
92% above NH
$404,500±$32k
about the NH average
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,852±$475Highest
24% above NH
$1,664±$187
12% above NH
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
Hampton Falls and Plaistow 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
$7,194
8% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.3%±16.9
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
Somersworth 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
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.5%
NH: 7.2%
11.2%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
86.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
78.1%
NH: 72.8%
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
32 minHighest
21% above NH
29 min
7% above NH
26 min
3% below NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
21.8%±4.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.6%±4
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Falls 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 — #66 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Hampton Falls School District Timberlane Regional School District Somersworth School District
High school in town None in town None in town Timberlane Regional High School Somersworth High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4
11.4
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.