Compare towns
Bow vs Methuen 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).
Methuen has the youngest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Methuen | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
53,475Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Methuen 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% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Bow and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Bow 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Methuen | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Methuen High | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.