Compare towns

Henniker vs Lee vs South Hampton 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
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.

MeasureHennikerLeeSouth HamptonPlaistow
People
Population
6,197
4,576
984Lowest
7,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+4.4%
NH: +4.6%
+9.8%
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
42.9±1.9
about the NH average
45.1±5.3Highest
4% above NH
40.1±3.7
7% below NH
South Hampton and Lee 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%
21.9%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
23.3%±5.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
South Hampton and Lee 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%
22.6%±6.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
Lee 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%
50.6%
NH: 40.6%
52.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
5.4%±2.6
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.4
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
$131,579±$54k
33% above NH
$152,500±$44kHighest
54% above NH
$108,317±$13k
9% above NH
South Hampton and Lee 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
$480,600±$61k
19% above NH
$661,100±$45kHighest
64% above NH
$404,500±$32k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
—
$1,889±$489Highest
27% above NH
$1,664±$187
12% above NH
South Hampton 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
$9,661Highest
45% above NH
$9,109
37% above NH
$7,194Lowest
8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
38.3%±53.3
NH: 48.2%
30%±40.8Lowest
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%
2.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
4.5%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
88.6%
NH: 72.8%
78.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1987Highest
8 yrs newer than NH
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
28 min
about the NH average
28 min
6% above NH
29 minHighest
7% above NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
27.6%±8.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
17%±3.9
NH: 16.8%
13.6%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lee and South Hampton 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 #3 of 120 in NH — #66 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Oyster River Coop School District South Hampton 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
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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.