Compare towns
Plymouth vs Pembroke vs Hillsborough vs Holderness
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).
Pembroke has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Holderness has the highest household income ($108k).
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 | Pembroke | Hillsborough | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
7,438Highest |
5,980 |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough 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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
| Holderness 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±$22k 27% below NH |
$371,500±$20kHighest 8% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
| Pembroke and Holderness 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 |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$5,815 13% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Hillsborough 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Pembroke School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Pembroke Academy | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.