Compare towns
Plaistow vs New Ipswich vs Plymouth 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | New Ipswich | Plymouth | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
5,310Lowest |
6,601 |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Pembroke 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% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| New Ipswich 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±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Plaistow and New Ipswich 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 |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| 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 8% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
12.8 |
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.