Compare towns
Hanover vs Plaistow 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
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Plaistow | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
7,861 |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% 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 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest 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+ | 19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.