Compare towns
Bow vs Mapleton vs Strong 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Strong has the oldest population (median age 47.5).
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 | Mapleton | Strong | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,884 |
1,249Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Strong 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 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strong and Mapleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$1,218±$354 14% below U.S. |
| 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 207% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$1,950 37% below U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke and Bow 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Strong 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | — | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.