Compare towns

Henniker vs Windham vs Somersworth vs Plaistow

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%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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.

MeasureHennikerWindhamSomersworthPlaistow
People
Population
6,197Lowest
16,038Highest
12,111
7,861
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%
NH: +4.6%
+0.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
28% below NH
41.1±2.9Highest
5% below NH
38.4±2.7
11% below NH
40.1±3.7
7% below NH
Windham 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
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
19.9%±4
NH: 18.2%
19.8%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
14%±3Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±3.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Plaistow 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%
62.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
31.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
34.9%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
4.9%±2
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21k
4% below NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
$74,504±$13kLowest
25% below NH
$108,317±$13k
9% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49k
11% below NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
$318,400±$23kLowest
21% below NH
$404,500±$32k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
$1,477±$134
about the NH average
$1,664±$187
12% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877
33% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,805Lowest
about the NH average
$7,194
8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
56.3%±14.7Highest
NH: 48.2%
55.3%±16.9
NH: 48.2%
Somersworth and Plaistow 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%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
11.2%
NH: 7.2%
4.5%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
57.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
78.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
1967Lowest
12 yrs older than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below NH
31 minHighest
15% above NH
26 min
3% below NH
29 min
7% above NH
Work from home
15.5%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.7%±3.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
13.6%±4
NH: 16.8%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #117 of 120 in NH #66 of 120 in NH
School district Henniker School District Windham School District Somersworth School District Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town None in town Windham High School Somersworth High School Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
11.4Lowest
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.