Compare towns
Weare vs Henniker vs Litchfield vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Weare | Henniker | Litchfield | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
6,197 |
8,499 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Litchfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Litchfield 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #53 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Henniker School District | Litchfield School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Campbell High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 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.