Compare towns
Bow vs Portsmouth 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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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.
| Measure | Bow | Portsmouth | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
22,545Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Portsmouth 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth 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% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Portsmouth 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth 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 NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Portsmouth School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Portsmouth High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
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.