Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Stratham 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
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
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 | Stratham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980Lowest |
7,754Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 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.