Compare towns
Pembroke vs Bow vs Northfield vs Walpole
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).
Walpole has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Pembroke | Bow | Northfield | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
8,335Highest |
4,971 |
3,690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest 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 |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole 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% |
22.2%±5.2 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%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% 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% |
4%±2.8 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±$22k 10% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| 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 14% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,078 9% below 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% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Bow School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.