Compare towns
Pembroke vs Plaistow vs Somersworth vs Walpole
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%).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Somersworth | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
7,861 |
12,111Highest |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole 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% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Walpole 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Walpole 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 |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% 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±$354 18% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
| Plaistow and Somersworth 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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.