Compare towns
Eliot vs Henniker 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
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Eliot | Henniker | Pembroke | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
6,197Lowest |
7,438 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21k 18% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,218±$354 14% below U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #56 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Henniker School District | Pembroke School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.