Compare towns
Durham vs Henniker vs Hopkinton vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hopkinton has the most people working from home (23.8%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Henniker | Hopkinton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
6,197 |
6,037Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Durham and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Henniker School District | Hopkinton School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Hopkinton High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.0Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.