Compare towns
Pembroke vs Hooksett vs Rochester
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).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Hooksett | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438Lowest |
15,057 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester 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%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Rochester 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Hooksett 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hooksett and Pembroke 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 |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Hooksett and Pembroke 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Rochester 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| 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.