Compare towns
Henniker vs Hartford vs Hopkinton vs Plaistow
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%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Hartford | Hopkinton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
10,736Highest |
6,037Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45±2.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$137,477±$21kHighest 70% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton 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±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$506,900±$54kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,270±$129 10% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 185% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Hartford 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #28 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Hartford School District | Hopkinton School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Hopkinton High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
12.0Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.