Compare towns
Bow vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,605Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest 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 |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Bow and Hampton Beach 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 |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Pembroke School District |
| High school 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.