Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Hillsborough vs Pembroke vs Henniker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Hopkinton | Hillsborough | Pembroke | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,037 |
5,980Lowest |
7,438Highest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129Highest 15% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Pembroke 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 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 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 | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1974Highest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
9.5Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| 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.