Compare towns
Henniker vs New Ipswich vs Plaistow vs Hillsborough
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%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.
| Measure | Henniker | New Ipswich | Plaistow | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
5,310Lowest |
7,861Highest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Plaistow 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| New Ipswich 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±$49k 11% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164 27% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough 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 |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Henniker and Hillsborough 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.