Compare towns

Bow vs Lebanon vs Norwich vs Pembroke

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
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.

MeasureBowLebanonNorwichPembroke
People
Population
8,335
14,999Highest
3,640Lowest
7,438
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
38.9±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
41.9±3.3Highest
8% above U.S.
Pembroke and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
24%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.4%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Lebanon 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lebanon 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
114% above U.S.
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$89,519±$22kLowest
11% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$371,500±$20kLowest
12% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,218±$354Lowest
14% below U.S.
Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$8,149
161% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,589Lowest
143% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±21.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pembroke and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
15%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon 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 #29 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT #85 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Lebanon School District Norwich School District Pembroke School District
High school in town Bow High School Lebanon High School None in town Pembroke Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
11.7Lowest
—
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.