Compare towns
Henniker vs Plainfield vs Ashland
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%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Plainfield | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,197Highest |
2,522 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Plainfield and Henniker 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Henniker and Ashland 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Henniker School District | Plainfield School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.