Compare towns
Henniker vs Thornton vs Weare
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%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Thornton | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,197 |
2,799Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Thornton 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare 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% |
19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$396,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Weare and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
| Weare and Thornton 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Weare 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | Thornton School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.