Compare towns
Marlborough vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.6%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
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 | Marlborough | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 2,207Lowest |
6,601Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
$77,027±$26kHighest 22% below NH |
| Plymouth and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH |
$292,400±$22kHighest 27% below NH |
| Plymouth and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,133±$323Highest 24% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Marlborough and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,362Highest 5% below NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±25.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Marlborough and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 21% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Marlborough and Plymouth 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Marlborough School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.

