What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Nashua	Pembroke
People
Population	91,294Highest	7,438Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH	41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH
	Pembroke and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Pembroke and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Highest NH: 20.1%	16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Nashua and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Highest NH: 6%	3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Nashua and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kHighest about the NH average	$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH
	Nashua and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kHighest about the NH average	$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH	$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Lowest about the NH average	$7,589Highest 14% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Pembroke and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	67.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the NH average	25 minLowest 8% below NH
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Highest NH: 16.8%	17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Nashua 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	#67 of 120 in NH	#85 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashua School District	Pembroke School District
High school in town	Nashua High School South	Pembroke Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.1Highest
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.