Compare towns
Henniker vs Keene vs Hanover vs Plaistow
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | Keene | Hanover | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
22,939Highest |
11,685 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Keene 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Plaistow 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #56 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Keene School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Hanover High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.