Compare towns

Henniker vs Portsmouth vs Wilder vs Pembroke

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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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.

MeasureHennikerPortsmouthWilderPembroke
People
Population
6,197
22,545Highest
3,087Lowest
7,438
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
20% below U.S.
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
41.9±3.3
8% above U.S.
Wilder and Portsmouth 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%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder 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%
60.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.2%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%
8.1%±3.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$106,219±$7kHighest
32% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$89,519±$22k
11% above U.S.
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
7% above U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$371,500±$20k
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$1,218±$354
14% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877Highest
185% above U.S.
$8,018
157% above U.S.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$7,589
143% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±21.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
15%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
25 minHighest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Portsmouth 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 #11 of 120 in NH — #85 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Portsmouth School District — Pembroke School District
High school in town None in town Portsmouth High School — Pembroke Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
—
13.1Highest
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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.