Compare towns
Pembroke vs Ogunquit vs Bow vs Plaistow
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 most renters (32.6% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Ogunquit | Bow | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
1,379Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Ogunquit 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 11% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Bow and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Plaistow and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589 143% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | — | Bow High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.