Compare towns
Henniker vs Plainfield vs Wilder vs Pembroke
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 the youngest population (median age 31.1).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% 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 | Wilder | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
2,522Lowest |
3,087 |
7,438Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
| 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 7% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,218±$354 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Pembroke 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 | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Plainfield School District | — | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.