Compare towns
Henniker vs Lebanon vs New Ipswich 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%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Plaistow has the oldest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Lebanon | New Ipswich | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
14,999Highest |
5,310Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
| Plaistow and Lebanon 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164 27% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Lebanon School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.