Compare towns
Pembroke vs Windham vs Hanover 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 affordable homes ($372k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Windham | Hanover | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,479 |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Pembroke and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Pembroke 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Windham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Hanover and Windham 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 |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589 14% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Windham School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Windham High School | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.