Compare towns
Plaistow vs Henniker vs Barnstead vs Hampstead
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%).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Plaistow | Henniker | Barnstead | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,197 |
4,994Lowest |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Henniker School District | Barnstead School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.