Compare towns
Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Ashland vs Plaistow
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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Portsmouth | Ashland | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
22,545Highest |
2,183Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Plaistow 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Portsmouth 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
| Plaistow and Portsmouth 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Portsmouth School District | Ashland School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.