Compare towns
Northfield vs Pembroke vs Plymouth vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most homeowners (71.6%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Somersworth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
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 | Northfield | Pembroke | Plymouth | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,971Lowest |
7,438 |
6,601 |
12,111Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Highest about the NH average |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Northfield and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Northfield and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kHighest 6% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Northfield and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$371,500±$20kHighest 8% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
| Somersworth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Pembroke School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Plymouth Regional High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.