Compare towns
Henniker vs Plainfield vs Wilder vs Weare
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 expensive homes ($442k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
2,522Lowest |
3,087 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%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±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.6±4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Weare and Wilder 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%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Weare 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest 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% |
41.2%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% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Weare 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. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Weare 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. |
$6,272 101% 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% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer 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. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare and Plainfield 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 | — | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Plainfield School District | — | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.