Compare towns
Pembroke vs Mason 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Plaistow has the most expensive homes ($405k 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 | Mason | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438 |
1,451Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Mason and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Pembroke 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Pembroke 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% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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 |
$111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Mason 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±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Mason 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 |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Mason and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% 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 |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Mason School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.