Compare towns
Pembroke vs Weare vs Bennington
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Weare has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Weare | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438 |
9,170Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Weare and Bennington 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% |
22.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Pembroke and Bennington 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% |
41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Weare 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 |
$118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Weare 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 |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Weare and Bennington 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 |
$6,272 6% below NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3% 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Pembroke School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | John Stark Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.