Compare towns
Bow vs Brentwood 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%).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Bow | Brentwood | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,641Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Brentwood 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% |
21.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Brentwood 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 |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Bow and Brentwood 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 |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Brentwood and Bow 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 |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Brentwood and Bow 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 |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Pembroke 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Brentwood 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 | 6 photos → | 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.