Compare towns
Bow vs Newport 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%).
Newport has the most affordable homes ($226k 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 | Newport | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
6,375Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46.9±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Newport 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% |
13.3%±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% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newport 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% |
28.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$80,341±$12kLowest 19% below NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$225,900±$17kLowest 44% below NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,365±$305 8% below NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Bow and Newport 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 |
$5,649Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±15.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Newport 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% |
11.8% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1964Lowest 15 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.6%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #119 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Newport School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Newport Middle High School (High) | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
10.8Lowest |
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.