Compare towns
Pembroke vs Exeter vs Plaistow vs Pittsfield
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | Exeter | Plaistow | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
16,151Highest |
7,861 |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±5.1 4% below NH |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Pittsfield 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Pittsfield 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| Exeter and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Exeter and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
| Exeter and Plaistow 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Exeter High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.