Compare towns

Henniker vs Hartford vs Portsmouth vs Plymouth

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 kids (18% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
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.

MeasureHennikerHartfordPortsmouthPlymouth
People
Population
6,197Lowest
10,736
22,545Highest
6,601
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.1±6.1
20% below U.S.
43.2±3.9Highest
11% above U.S.
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
24.6±3.4Lowest
37% below U.S.
Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
13.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
12%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
33.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Plymouth and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$78,125±$7k
3% below U.S.
$106,219±$7kHighest
32% above U.S.
$77,027±$26kLowest
5% below U.S.
Portsmouth and Henniker 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±$26k
8% below U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
$292,400±$22kLowest
12% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,108±$255
22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877Highest
185% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$8,018
157% above U.S.
$6,288
102% 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%
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
33.8%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
56.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
22 minHighest
16% below U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Portsmouth 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 #11 of 120 in NH #47 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Hartford School District Portsmouth School District Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District
High school in town None in town Hartford High School Portsmouth High School Plymouth Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.6Lowest
11.4
12.8Highest
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.