Compare towns
Derry vs Milford 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
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Derry | Milford | Pembroke | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,337 |
7,438Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Pembroke and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Derry and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Derry and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Milford School District | Pembroke School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Milford High School | Pembroke Academy | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
13.1 |
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.