Compare towns
Pembroke vs Chester vs Plaistow
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 kids (24% under 18).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Chester | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438 |
5,300Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Chester 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% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
— | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Chester School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.