Compare towns
Henniker vs White River Junction vs Portsmouth 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%).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | White River Junction | Portsmouth | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
3,364Lowest |
22,545Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow 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±$49k 7% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Portsmouth 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Henniker School District | — | Portsmouth School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Portsmouth High School | Timberlane 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.