Compare towns
Henniker vs Plainfield vs Somersworth vs New Ipswich
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 people working from home (18.1%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | Somersworth | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
2,522Lowest |
12,111Highest |
5,310 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
| Plainfield and Somersworth 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%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield 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% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and New Ipswich 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
| Plainfield and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164 27% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
| Plainfield and Somersworth 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Somersworth 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Plainfield School District | Somersworth School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.