Compare towns
Weare 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
Weare has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Weare | Bow | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
8,335 |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Weare and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Lowest 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+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Weare and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Bow 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Bow School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | 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 |
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.