Compare towns
Plaistow vs Swanzey 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%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Swanzey | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
7,398Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Swanzey 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Pembroke and Swanzey 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 9% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| 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 12% above NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Plaistow and Swanzey 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Monadnock Regional High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.