Compare towns
Pembroke vs Somersworth vs Hillsborough 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 most people working from home (17%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Plaistow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
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 | Somersworth | Hillsborough | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
12,111Highest |
5,980Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough 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% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Somersworth 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 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% NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Somersworth 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above 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 |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above 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 |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Somersworth 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% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Somersworth School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Somersworth High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.