Compare towns

Pembroke vs Exeter vs Hanover

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover has the most kids (26.1% 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.

MeasurePembrokeExeterHanover
People
Population
18,382Highest
16,151
14,845Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.5±3.3
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
41.8±1.4Lowest
7% above U.S.
Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.1%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.4%±3.1
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
56.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,285±$17k
81% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kLowest
37% above U.S.
$189,803±$23kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$586,500±$28k
76% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$755,400±$39kHighest
127% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,464±$753Highest
74% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,845±$341Lowest
31% above U.S.
Pembroke and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,585Lowest
111% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$9,342Highest
200% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.1%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
65%±23.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
32 min
21% above U.S.
Work from home
21.2%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pembroke and Exeter 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 #82 of 282 in MA #22 of 120 in NH #69 of 282 in MA
School district Pembroke Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Pembroke High School Exeter High School South Shore Vocational Technical High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
12.1
10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → None yet

U.S. 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.