Compare towns
Lebanon vs Henniker vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Lebanon | Henniker | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
6,197 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
38.9±6.5Highest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Henniker and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
22 minHighest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Henniker School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.