Compare towns
Pembroke vs Barnstead vs Hillsborough
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Hillsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.1%).
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 | Pembroke | Barnstead | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438Highest |
4,994 |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
49.9±16Highest 15% above NH |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead 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% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
12.2%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
32.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hillsborough and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
16.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead 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±$22k 10% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$49,205±$28kLowest 50% below NH |
| Barnstead and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20kHighest 8% below NH |
$362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$265,200±$51kLowest 34% below NH |
| Pembroke and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,138±$201Lowest 24% below NH |
| Barnstead and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,437Lowest 18% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.8%±22.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Pembroke 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1944Lowest 35 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
41 minHighest 55% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
10.2%±7.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Barnstead 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Barnstead School District | — |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.