Compare towns
Bow vs Bethlehem 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
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 | Bethlehem | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,537Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Bethlehem 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% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest 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% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below 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 | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Bethlehem 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Bow 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Profile Senior High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
8.9Lowest |
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.