Compare towns
Berwick vs Pembroke vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Berwick | Pembroke | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
7,438Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3Highest 8% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Berwick and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,589Highest 143% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #85 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | 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 |
U.S. 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.