Compare towns

Henniker vs Wilder vs Portsmouth vs Hopkinton

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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Hopkinton has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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.

MeasureHennikerWilderPortsmouthHopkinton
People
Population
6,197
3,087Lowest
22,545Highest
6,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
20% below U.S.
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
45±2.8
16% above U.S.
Wilder and Hopkinton 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%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hopkinton and Henniker 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%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2
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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.9%±4.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$106,219±$7k
32% above U.S.
$137,477±$21kHighest
70% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
7% above U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
$506,900±$54k
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,270±$129
10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877
185% above U.S.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$8,018
157% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±6
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth 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%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
23% below U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
22 minHighest
16% below U.S.
22 minHighest
16% below U.S.
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
23.8%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hopkinton and Portsmouth 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 #28 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District — Portsmouth School District Hopkinton School District
High school in town None in town — Portsmouth High School Hopkinton High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.4Lowest
12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.