Compare towns
Pembroke vs Pepperell 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 most affordable homes ($372k median).
Pepperell has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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.
| Measure | Pembroke | Pepperell | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438Lowest |
11,663Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest 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% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell 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±$22kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Bow and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Pepperell 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. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke and Pepperell 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | North Middlesex | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.