Compare towns

Pembroke vs Bow vs Northfield vs Chichester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Chichester has the oldest population (median age 43).

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.

MeasurePembrokeBowNorthfieldChichester
People
Population
7,438
8,335Highest
4,971
2,745Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.3%
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+0.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.9±3.3
3% below NH
41.5±2Lowest
4% below NH
42.6±5.1
about the NH average
43±3.3Highest
about the NH average
Chichester and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
24%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
20.3%±4.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
20.3%±4.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
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
NH: 20.1%
17.6%±2.5Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.2%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
17.2%±3
NH: 20.1%
Bow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
32.2%
NH: 40.6%
60.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
23.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
5.1%±2.5
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7
NH: 6%
Bow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,519±$22kLowest
10% below NH
$172,857±$16kHighest
75% above NH
$92,917±$15k
6% below NH
$109,297±$13k
10% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$20k
8% below NH
$506,500±$34kHighest
26% above NH
$288,500±$33kLowest
28% below NH
$409,300±$26k
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,218±$354
18% below NH
$1,539±$178
3% above NH
$1,076±$182Lowest
28% below NH
$2,055±$275Highest
38% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,589
14% above NH
$9,584Highest
44% above NH
$5,097Lowest
24% below NH
$7,189
8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.4%±21.8
NH: 48.2%
39%±13.2
NH: 48.2%
24.1%±14.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.6%±34.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
Chichester and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
15%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.1%
NH: 7.2%
6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
87.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
71.6%
NH: 72.8%
85.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1979
same as NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
8% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
26 min
4% below NH
30 minHighest
13% above NH
Work from home
17%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
22.7%±4.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
6.9%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19%±8
NH: 16.8%
Bow and Chichester 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 #109 of 120 in NH #75 of 120 in NH
School district Pembroke School District Bow School District Winnisquam Regional School District Chichester School District
High school in town Pembroke Academy Bow High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
12.8Lowest
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NH 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.