Compare towns
Henniker vs Milford vs Lebanon 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%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Milford | Lebanon | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
16,337Highest |
14,999 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Plaistow and Lebanon 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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Milford 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 |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Milford 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Milford School District | Lebanon School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milford High School | Lebanon High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
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.