What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).

Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).

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	Pembroke	Amherst
People
Population	7,438Lowest	11,861Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH	45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH
	Amherst and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Pembroke and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Amherst and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	65.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%	3.7%±1.5Highest NH: 6%
	Amherst and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH	$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH	$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH	$1,462±$256Highest about the NH average
	Amherst and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,589Lowest 14% above NH	$9,773Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2%	31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Pembroke and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 8% below NH	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8%	32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#85 of 120 in NH	#20 of 120 in NH
School district	Pembroke School District	Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District
High school in town	Pembroke Academy	Souhegan Coop High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	10.4Lowest
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.