Compare towns
Plaistow vs Jay 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 highest household income ($108k).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
471Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plaistow and Pembroke 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% |
45.1%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% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest 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±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Pembroke 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. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$7,589Highest 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 History | 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.