Compare towns
Henniker vs Lebanon vs Plainfield 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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Plainfield | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke 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% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Plainfield 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Plainfield and Lebanon 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 |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Henniker 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
— | 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.