Compare towns
Henniker vs Pembroke vs Hillsborough 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%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Pembroke | Hillsborough | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
7,438 |
5,980Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest 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% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Plaistow 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±$49k 11% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Pembroke 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 |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Pembroke 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 |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Henniker 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Pembroke School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
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.