Compare towns
Pembroke vs Hanover vs Suncook
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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438 |
11,685Highest |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.9±8.1 12% below NH |
| Pembroke and Suncook 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Suncook 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Suncook 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589 14% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.