Compare towns
Somersworth vs Plymouth vs New Ipswich 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
Somersworth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1967).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
New Ipswich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Pembroke has the most people working from home (17%).
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 | Somersworth | Plymouth | New Ipswich | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,111Highest |
6,601 |
5,310Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
| Pembroke and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Pembroke and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| New Ipswich and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$392,400±$31kHighest about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| New Ipswich and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Somersworth and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805 about the NH average |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and New Ipswich 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
11.7 |
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.