Compare towns
Plymouth vs Durham 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
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Durham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601Lowest |
10,681Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Pembroke and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Durham and Pembroke 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,302±$211Highest 13% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Durham and Pembroke 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | — | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | — | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 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.