Compare towns
Plaistow vs Somersworth vs Pembroke vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
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 | Somersworth | Pembroke | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
12,111Highest |
7,438Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Somersworth 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Plaistow and Somersworth 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District | Pembroke School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| 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.