Compare towns
Pembroke vs Lyme vs Bow vs Plaistow
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Lyme | Bow | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
1,710Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Lyme and Pembroke 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% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Bow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Bow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Lyme School District | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town | Bow High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.