Compare towns
Plaistow vs Hopkinton vs Hampstead 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).
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Hopkinton | Hampstead | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
6,037Lowest |
9,102Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Hampstead and Hopkinton 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% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hopkinton 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% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Hampstead 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 |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Hampstead 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 |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Hampstead and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Hampstead 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Hampstead School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
— | 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.