Compare towns

Bow vs Pembroke vs Ripton

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).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureBowPembrokeRipton
People
Population
8,335Highest
7,438
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
41.9±3.3
8% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton 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%
24%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
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%
16.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$89,519±$22kLowest
11% above U.S.
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$371,500±$20kLowest
12% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,218±$354Lowest
14% below U.S.
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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.
$7,589
143% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±21.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton 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
U.S.: 12.5%
15%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
7% below U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Ripton 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town Bow High School Pembroke Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
13.1Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.