Compare towns
Pembroke vs Francestown vs Northfield
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).
Francestown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Francestown | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438Highest |
1,398Lowest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Francestown and Northfield 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% |
19.8%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Northfield 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% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown and Northfield 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% |
52.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Northfield 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 |
$104,063±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Francestown and Northfield 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 |
$408,200±$34kHighest about the NH average |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Francestown and Pembroke 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 |
$1,358±$256Highest 9% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Francestown 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 |
$8,014Highest 20% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown 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 | — | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town | 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.