Compare towns
Pembroke vs New Ipswich vs Plaistow vs Pittsfield
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 people working from home (17%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($295k 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 | New Ipswich | Plaistow | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
5,310 |
7,861Highest |
4,105Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
41.5±5.1 4% below NH |
| Pembroke and Pittsfield 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
| New Ipswich 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 |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$294,800±$30kLowest 27% below NH |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$5,694 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and New Ipswich 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Pittsfield School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Mascenic Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Pittsfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
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| 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.