Compare towns

Plaistow vs Kingston 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

Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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.

MeasurePlaistowKingstonHaverhillPembroke
People
Population
7,861
6,275Lowest
67,698Highest
7,438
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.9%
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.
55.5±5.7Highest
43% above U.S.
39.4±1.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.9±3.3
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±4.3
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.5
U.S.: 22%
24%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Pembroke and Haverhill 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%
24.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Kingston 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%
35.1%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%
3.6%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Haverhill and Kingston 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.
$105,330±$12k
30% above U.S.
$88,326±$4kLowest
9% above U.S.
$89,519±$22k
11% above U.S.
Plaistow and Kingston 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.
$492,900±$58kHighest
48% above U.S.
$453,900±$9k
36% above U.S.
$371,500±$20kLowest
12% above U.S.
Kingston and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,664±$187
18% above U.S.
$1,393±$156
about the U.S. average
$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.
$7,906Highest
153% 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%
46.9%±46.4Lowest
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%
2.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
15%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.4%
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.
1982Highest
2 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.
34 minHighest
29% 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%
15.7%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pembroke and Kingston 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 #78 of 120 in NH #243 of 282 in MA #85 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Sanborn Regional School District Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical Pembroke School District
High school in town Timberlane Regional High School Sanborn Regional High School Haverhill High Pembroke Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Lowest
12.9
12.5
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.