Compare towns
Plaistow vs Weare vs Hopkinton 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 the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Weare has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
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 | Weare | Hopkinton | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
9,170Highest |
6,037Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
45±2.8 4% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Weare and Hopkinton 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% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Weare 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Weare 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 |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Plaistow and Weare 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 |
$6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare 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% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hopkinton School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | John Stark Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
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.