Compare towns
Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Eliot 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% 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 | Portsmouth | Eliot | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
22,545Highest |
7,146 |
9,170 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Weare 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Eliot 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% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$118,271±$17kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Weare 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±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,272 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Weare and Eliot 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% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Weare and Portsmouth 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Portsmouth School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | John Stark 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 |
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.