What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Henniker	Nelson
People
Population	6,197Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH	42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average
	Nelson and Henniker 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%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	61.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	27%±6.5Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH	$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average
	Nelson and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$356,700±$49kHighest 11% below NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
	Henniker and Nelson 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	$1,203±$243Highest 19% below NH
	Nelson and Henniker 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	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±22.6Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Henniker and Nelson 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%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below NH	24 minHighest 9% below NH
Work from home	15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#56 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Henniker School District	Nelson School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.