Compare towns
Henniker vs Keene vs Plaistow vs Plymouth
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).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Henniker | Keene | Plaistow | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
22,939Highest |
7,861 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% 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%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±6 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 11% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
| Plaistow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Keene School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.