Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Somersworth vs Plaistow vs Henniker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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 | Hopkinton | Somersworth | Plaistow | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,037Lowest |
12,111Highest |
7,861 |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Plaistow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 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 | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
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| 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.