Compare towns
Concord vs South Berwick vs Bow 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
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Concord | South Berwick | Bow | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
7,670 |
8,335 |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above 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 | 17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 132% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and South Berwick 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bow School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Marshwood High School | Bow High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
13.0 |
12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.