Compare towns
Pembroke vs White River Junction vs Bow vs Suncook
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 oldest population (median age 41.9).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Suncook has the oldest housing (typical home built 1951).
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 | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,438 |
3,364Lowest |
8,335Highest |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Highest 8% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
37.9±8.1 about the U.S. average |
| Pembroke and Bow 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% |
19.8%±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% |
16.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Suncook 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% |
31.4%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% |
2.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Pembroke 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. |
$79,836±$25k about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$361,100±$22k 9% above 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. |
$1,091±$317Lowest 23% 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,975 124% 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%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pembroke and Suncook 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% |
12.9% 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% |
59.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs 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 |
25 min 7% 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% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Pembroke School District | — | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | — | Bow High School | — |
| 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.