Compare towns
Henniker vs Wilder vs Portsmouth 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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.
| Measure | Henniker | Wilder | Portsmouth | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,197 |
3,087Lowest |
22,545Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest 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. |
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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 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% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest 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%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest 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±$7kHighest 32% above 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% 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. |
$1,218±$354 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% 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% |
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% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest 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% |
67.4%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. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest 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 |
| 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.