Compare towns
Ashland vs Newington vs Pembroke vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Ashland | Newington | Pembroke | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183 |
939Lowest |
7,438Highest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Newington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
| Newington and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
| Newington and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Plymouth 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 | — | — | #85 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Newington School District | Pembroke School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.