Compare towns
Pembroke vs Plymouth vs Bow vs Northfield
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Bow | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
6,601 |
8,335Highest |
4,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
42.6±5.1Highest about the NH average |
| Northfield 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 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%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354 18% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% 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 |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pembroke and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Bow School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Plymouth Regional High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
12.8Lowest |
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| 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.