Compare towns
Exeter 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hopkinton has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Hopkinton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,037Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
| Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hopkinton School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hopkinton High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.0Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.