Compare towns
Bow vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Worcester | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
207,055Highest |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.9±3.3Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Pembroke and Bow 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% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Bow and Worcester 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. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | South High Community | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.