Compare towns
Pembroke vs Hillsborough vs Hopkinton 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).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Hillsborough | Hopkinton | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
5,980Lowest |
6,037 |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hopkinton 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% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 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% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow 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% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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±$22k 10% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589 14% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Plaistow 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Hopkinton School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Hopkinton High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
12.0 |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.