Compare towns
Bow vs Barnstead 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
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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 | Bow | Barnstead | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,994Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Barnstead and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest 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+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Bow and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Barnstead School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | 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.