Compare towns
Plaistow vs Walpole vs Bow vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Walpole has the most affordable homes ($320k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Pembroke has the most renters (32.6% rent).
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 | Plaistow | Walpole | Bow | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
3,690Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Walpole and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 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+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$82,617±$16kLowest 17% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$319,800±$48kLowest 21% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,165±$150Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Plaistow and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$6,078Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bow School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Bow High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.