Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Pembroke vs Plymouth vs Deering
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Deering has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Hillsborough | Pembroke | Plymouth | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,980 |
7,438Highest |
6,601 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
| Deering and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$101,250±$16kHighest about the NH average |
| Deering and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$371,500±$20kHighest 8% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$309,900±$27k 23% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,306±$116Highest 12% below NH |
| Deering and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,223 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
14.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
40 min 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Pembroke Academy | Plymouth Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.8 |
— |
| 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.