Compare towns
Pembroke vs Keene vs Derry 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).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Keene | Derry | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438Lowest |
22,939 |
34,116Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Pembroke and Derry 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Derry 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Derry 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 |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Derry 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Derry 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Derry 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Keene School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Keene High School | Pinkerton Academy | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.3 |
13.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.