Compare towns

Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Plymouth vs Hillsborough

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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
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.

MeasureHennikerPortsmouthPlymouthHillsborough
People
Population
6,197
22,545Highest
6,601
5,980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
-4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
-1.2%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1
28% below NH
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
24.6±3.4Lowest
43% below NH
40.9±4.6
6% below NH
Portsmouth and Hillsborough 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%±1.9
NH: 18.2%
13.6%±3.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±4.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
Hillsborough and Henniker 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%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
12%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.9
NH: 20.1%
Portsmouth and Henniker 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%
54%
NH: 40.6%
23.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
33.7%±3.5Highest
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Plymouth and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$106,219±$7kHighest
7% above NH
$77,027±$26kLowest
22% below NH
$84,495±$12k
15% below NH
Portsmouth 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
11% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$292,400±$22k
27% below NH
$272,300±$16kLowest
32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$1,108±$255
26% below NH
$1,198±$390
20% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877Highest
33% above NH
$8,018
20% above NH
$6,288
6% below NH
$5,815Lowest
13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
33.8%±11.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±23.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hillsborough 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%
18.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
56.3%
NH: 72.8%
92.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below NH
22 min
17% below NH
18 minLowest
31% below NH
41 minHighest
54% above NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14%±5.2
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 #47 of 120 in NH #97 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Portsmouth School District Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District
High school in town None in town Portsmouth High School Plymouth Regional High School Hillsboro-Deering High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4
12.8Highest
9.5Lowest
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.