Compare towns
Allenstown vs New Ipswich vs Pembroke vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Allenstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k median).
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 | Allenstown | New Ipswich | Pembroke | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,743Lowest |
5,310 |
7,438 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±4.7 9% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Pembroke and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$397 14% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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 | — | #82 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Allenstown School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Pembroke School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School | Pembroke Academy | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.