Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hampstead vs Haverhill 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
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Hampstead | Haverhill | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
9,102 |
67,698Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampstead and Haverhill 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. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$453,900±$9k 36% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Haverhill and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #243 of 282 in MA | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampstead School District | Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Haverhill High | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.5 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.