Compare towns
Pembroke vs Plaistow vs Keene
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).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Plaistow | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438Lowest |
7,861 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Pembroke 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Timberlane Regional High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.