Compare towns
Henniker vs Hillsborough vs Madbury vs Pembroke
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%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Madbury has the highest household income ($148k).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Hillsborough | Madbury | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
5,980 |
2,203Lowest |
7,438Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough 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% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Henniker and Hillsborough 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,574±$759Highest 6% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Madbury and Pembroke 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 |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.