Compare towns
Northfield vs Pembroke vs Plymouth vs Weare
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 affordable homes ($289k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Weare has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,971Lowest |
7,438 |
6,601 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
| Weare and Northfield 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% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Weare 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% |
13.5%±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% |
41.2% 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% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
| Weare and Northfield 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±$20k 8% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$396,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
| Weare and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| 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% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Pembroke School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Plymouth Regional High School | John Stark Regional 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.