Compare towns
Henniker vs Hanover vs Plaistow vs New Ipswich
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).
Plaistow has the oldest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Hanover | Plaistow | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
11,685Highest |
7,861 |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Plaistow 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164 27% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and New Ipswich 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #56 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
11.7Highest |
| 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.