Compare towns
Bow vs Ripton vs Westminster 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).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Westminster has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
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 | Ripton | Westminster | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
508 |
497Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.3±11.5 11% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Westminster and Bow 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±11.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Westminster 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% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$313,600±$39kLowest 6% below U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
— | $749±$315Lowest 47% 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. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,480Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 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 |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±15.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Bow 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | 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.