Compare towns
Plaistow vs Henniker vs Barnstead vs Kingston
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%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
6,197 |
4,994Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest 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 |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Plaistow 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% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% 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% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Barnstead and Plaistow 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 |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,906 19% 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% |
46.9%±46.4 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Henniker School District | Barnstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| 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.