Compare towns
Plymouth vs Dover vs Pembroke vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Newmarket has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Plymouth | Dover | Pembroke | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
33,364Highest |
7,438 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Pembroke and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$100,845±$13kHighest about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
| Newmarket and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Newmarket and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Dover School District | Pembroke School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Pembroke Academy | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.7 |
13.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.