Compare towns
Henniker vs Kensington vs Madbury 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%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Kensington | Madbury | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Kensington and Plaistow 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% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Plaistow 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% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington 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% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Kensington and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Plaistow 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Henniker 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington 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 | — | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 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.