Compare towns
Henniker vs Madbury vs Eliot vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Madbury | Eliot | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
2,203Lowest |
7,146 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
37.7±2.1 3% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$148,365±$30kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Madbury 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 7% above U.S. |
$476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 185% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 |
U.S. 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.