What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	6,197Lowest	11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S.	42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Pepperell 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S.	$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Pepperell 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±$49kLowest 7% above U.S.	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,295±$238Highest 8% below U.S.
	Pepperell and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,877Highest 185% above U.S.	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell 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%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Henniker School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.