Compare towns
Pembroke vs White River Junction vs Bow vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Northfield has the oldest population (median age 42.6).
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 | White River Junction | Bow | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
3,364Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3 8% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1Highest 10% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.9 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$92,917±$15k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$288,500±$33k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354 14% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,076±$182Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Bow and White River Junction 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. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,097Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | — | Bow School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.