Compare towns
Henniker vs Hanover vs Plainfield vs Hillsborough
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hanover | Plainfield | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
11,685Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hillsborough 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.