Compare towns
Bow vs Townsend vs Lee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Townsend | Lee | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
9,100Highest |
4,576Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
| Lee 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% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 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%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Lee 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #3 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | North Middlesex | Oyster River Coop School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | 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 | 10 photos → | 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.