Compare towns
Henniker vs Topsham vs Plaistow
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%).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Topsham | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,197Lowest |
9,706Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Topsham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow 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±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Topsham 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Henniker 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.