Compare towns
Bow vs Bedford vs Pembroke vs Auburn
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 most kids (25% under 18).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Bedford | Pembroke | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
23,746Highest |
7,438 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Bedford and Auburn 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% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest 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% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford 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% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Bedford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Bedford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Auburn 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Bedford School District | Pembroke School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School | Pembroke Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.1 |
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| 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.