Compare towns
Pembroke vs Chester vs Deering
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
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 | Chester | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438Highest |
5,300 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
| Deering and Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Chester 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% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Chester 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 |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$101,250±$16k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
— | $1,306±$116Highest 12% below NH |
| Deering and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589 14% above NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,223Lowest 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Deering 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Chester 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.