Compare towns
Henniker vs Newfields vs Plainfield vs Hopkinton
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Newfields | Plainfield | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,522 |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
| Newfields and Plainfield 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Henniker and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Hopkinton 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 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Newfields School District | Plainfield School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.0 |
| 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.