Compare towns
Durham vs Plaistow vs Pembroke vs Durham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
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 | Plaistow | Pembroke | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
7,861 |
7,438Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
20.8±0.3 52% 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 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 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+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Plaistow and Durham 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 |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Timberlane Regional School District | Pembroke School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School | Pembroke Academy | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.