Compare towns

Henniker vs Norwich vs Plaistow vs Hopkinton

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%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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.

MeasureHennikerNorwichPlaistowHopkinton
People
Population
6,197
3,640Lowest
7,861Highest
6,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
20% below U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
40.1±3.7
3% above U.S.
45±2.8Highest
16% above U.S.
Hopkinton and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Norwich 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%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.4%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hopkinton 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.9%±4.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21kLowest
18% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$108,317±$13k
34% above U.S.
$137,477±$21k
70% above U.S.
Norwich and Hopkinton 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.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$404,500±$32k
22% above U.S.
$506,900±$54k
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,664±$187Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,270±$129
10% below U.S.
Plaistow and Norwich 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.
$7,194Lowest
131% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.3%±16.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±6
U.S.: 51.1%
Plaistow and Henniker 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%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.8%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hopkinton and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #66 of 120 in NH #28 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Norwich School District Timberlane Regional School District Hopkinton School District
High school in town None in town None in town Timberlane Regional High School Hopkinton High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4Lowest
12.0Highest
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.