Compare towns

Pembroke vs Bellows Falls vs Bow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

MeasurePembrokeBellows FallsBow
People
Population
7,438
2,891Lowest
8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±3.3Highest
8% above U.S.
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
41.5±2
7% 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
24%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
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+
16.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Bellows Falls and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,519±$22k
11% above U.S.
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% below U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$20k
12% above U.S.
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% below U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,218±$354
14% below U.S.
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above 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
$7,589
143% above U.S.
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±21.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.9%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pembroke and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
11 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
17%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
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 #85 of 120 in NH — #26 of 120 in NH
School district Pembroke School District — Bow School District
High school in town Pembroke Academy — Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
—
12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.