What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).

Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Pembroke	Royalton
People
Population	7,438Highest	2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±3.3Lowest 8% above U.S.	43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S.
	Royalton 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 U.S.: 22%	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pembroke and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton 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 U.S.: 35.7%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Royalton 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±$22kLowest 11% above U.S.	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Royalton 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±$20kHighest 12% above U.S.	$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$354Highest 14% below U.S.	$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Pembroke and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,589Highest 143% above U.S.	$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pembroke and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	13%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 7% below U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	Pembroke School District	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Pembroke Academy	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.