Compare towns
Henniker vs Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs Pembroke
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%).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
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 | Plaistow | Hopkinton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
7,861Highest |
6,037Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877 33% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Pembroke 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.