Compare towns
Ashby vs Bow vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Ashby | Bow | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354 14% below U.S. |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bow School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow 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 |
U.S. 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.