Compare towns
Plaistow vs Dorset vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
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 | Plaistow | Dorset | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
2,092Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 131% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$7,589Highest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.