Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hillsborough vs Newton vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Newton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Hillsborough | Newton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
5,980 |
4,836Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Newton and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Newton and Pembroke 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 9% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Newton 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 about the NH average |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.5Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.