Compare towns
Atkinson vs Bow 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
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
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 | Atkinson | Bow | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Bow and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Atkinson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | 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 |
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.