Compare towns

Hollis vs Pembroke vs Pepperell

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).

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.

MeasureHollisPembrokePepperell
People
Population
8,603
7,438Lowest
11,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.4±5Highest
27% above U.S.
41.9±3.3Lowest
8% above U.S.
42.4±3.3
9% above U.S.
Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±4
U.S.: 22%
24%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.1%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Pembroke and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.3%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.2%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pepperell and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$168,883±$22kHighest
109% above U.S.
$89,519±$22kLowest
11% above U.S.
$124,073±$12k
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$675,900±$48kHighest
103% above U.S.
$371,500±$20kLowest
12% above U.S.
$482,100±$14k
45% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,598±$302Highest
13% above U.S.
$1,218±$354Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,295±$238
8% below U.S.
Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,589
143% above U.S.
$6,698Lowest
115% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.3%±19.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±21.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.1%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Pembroke and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
3% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
34 minHighest
28% above U.S.
Work from home
29%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #8 of 120 in NH #85 of 120 in NH #153 of 282 in MA
School district Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District Pembroke School District North Middlesex
High school in town Hollis-Brookline High School Pembroke Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.8Lowest
13.1Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.