Compare towns
Pembroke vs Portsmouth vs Bow
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 affordable homes ($372k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Portsmouth | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438Lowest |
22,545Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Portsmouth 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | Portsmouth School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | Portsmouth High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.