Compare towns
Barrington 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
Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Barrington | Pembroke | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,489Highest |
7,438Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3Lowest 11% 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 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barrington and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kHighest 11% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Barrington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Barrington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington and Pembroke 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | Pembroke School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.