How Safe Is Pembroke for Travel? (2023 Updated) ⋆ Travel Safe

Pembroke, New Hampshire, is a sleepy bedroom community just southeast of the state capital, Concord.

It also has a great position between Concord and Manchester, the two being just 20 minutes apart.

To cover as much of this region as possible, we’ll go through things to do and safety advice in Concord and Pembroke.

That's no easy feat because there are just so many great options here.

You have the history of the area, dating back to the 1600s, in addition to Native American presence well before that.

There are NASA activities honoring America's space heroes, including Christine McAuliffe, who was the first teacher slated to go into space but perished in the Challenger explosion.

The industry history of Pembroke and Concord paved the way for the clothing your wear today.

You also have all the tax-free shopping you can handle.

Then there's the wonderful New Hampshire outdoors, with parks surrounding Pembroke.

Plus, Concord is surrounded by six other towns, making this one of the largest metro areas in the state.

All that, plus Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine, are just an hour away.

Despite some high-profile crimes over the past year, this entire region has below-average crime rates in one of the safest states in the country. Top that with the abundance of things to do, and there's a low risk for everyone.

Concord Area Transit is the public transportation system here. Taxis and rideshares are easy to find. Rental cars offer more exploration throughout the state, which includes the coastline beaches and the White Mountains. All options are low-risk.

With just four pickpockets or purse snatchings since 2017 in Concord, and none in Pembroke, this is a low risk. Keep those standard safety steps in check, and you'll keep the risk low.

This is a medium risk due to the potential for threats throughout the year. This region can get hurricanes, nor'easters, major winter storms, and extreme temperatures in winter and summer. Both cities have great emergency management plans you can review online.

Almost half of the robberies reported here happen in residential spaces, so there's a low risk for tourists. While you still need to avoid walking around at night alone or leaving well-lit areas, common sense will keep the risk low.

While any capital city could be a target for protesters who turn violent, there's not an overwhelming risk here of any kind. The latest terrorism advisory bulletin from Homeland Security can be read online and will likely mention the mass shootings and domestic terrorism that is plaguing the nation. You can't really avoid that risk, even though it's low, but you can be a good steward and report any suspicious activity.

Check the Better Business Bureau website and the police department's social media pages for trending scams closer to your visit. Most are spoof calls geared toward residents, but you can't be too cautious. The risk is low, but scammers get more creative all the time. As much as possible, avoid giving your phone number or email when you're researching this region.

This is another low-risk area, as nothing in the crime data suggests female tourists are a particular target.

Concord's 2023 Water Quality Report shows full compliance and no violations. Pembroke's Water Quality Report shows some concerning statistics, like e. Coli found in the water supply and two required assessments were not completed, with the only note being, "During the past year, we failed to conduct all the required assessment(s)." The city has been working to replace thousands of feet of pipes to make the water safer. It's worth reading the Pembroke Water Quality Report if you have larger concerns about this summary.

Visit Concord and Visit New Hampshire are two websites that can get you information about this region through official tourism organizations.

Pembroke doesn't have a tourist guide, but you can look at the city's website or social media pages to find upcoming events.

Concord is known as the "Culture Capital," and it's not a stuffy downtown filled with politicians in black suites carrying briefcases.

I absolutely love free walking tours since I don't have to pay or move at the pace of a large group.

Concord has a historic walking tour with 62 locations to explore!

Download the guide so you can read about each place as you visit.

Art lovers can walk the streets to see murals painted on the side of historic buildings, the statues around the state house of notable New Hampshire icons, and the sculptures on Main Street.

New Hampshire doesn't have a sales tax, which means you’ll save 5-7% compared to neighboring states.

This is a great reason to stroll through the downtown shops with unique items and locally-owned stores.

Space enthusiasts can't miss the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center.

Christa McAuliffe & Alan B. Shepard are two state space heroes you can learn about through different exhibits.

There's also a special exhibit of Mt. Washington's weather, known as having the "Worst Weather in America," where you can step into the "Shake Shack."

Planetarium shows are popular too.

Just outside Pembroke is the Bear Brooke State Park, the largest of its kind in the state.

You get a mix of history and nature here, with three museums in the park.

Horseback rides, boating, camping, and archery are other options, along with 40 miles of trails are among an abundance of things to do here.

Chuckster's Family Fun Park on the north side of Pembroke touts the "World's Longest Mini Golf Hole."

You’ll also find a rock climbing wall, go-karts, batting cages, and seasonal bumper boats.

Scenic Rail Riders take you on the train tracks dating back to the 1840s, but you won't ride a train.

Guests will pedal their way along the tracks.

If you can ride a bike, you can ride this rail.

It's like a pedal boat but on train tracks instead of water.

Native American history is preserved and celebrated just northwest of Concord at the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum.

The Canterbury Shaker Village is less than 30 miles from Pembroke, and I urge you to consider this as part of your trip.

To see how the Shakers lived their communal lives in celibacy and child-free, it's as interesting as it is idyllic with the New Hampshire countryside setting.

Concord, Pembroke, and the surrounding cities are unilaterally safe to visit.

There aren't bad neighborhoods or sketchy parts of town.

The worst you’ll see is homeless gatherings downtown, which is easy to avoid.

You won't want to underestimate the power of a New England winter or the intensity of a hurricane that can come on shore.

While the town is used to winter weather and clears the streets quickly, it can be overwhelming for those not used to more than a few inches of snow in the winter.

I say this half-joking, but if you can avoid getting a Massachusetts license plate on your rental car, that's ideal.

There's a rivalry between the two states, and Massachusetts license plates will automatically make every New Hampshire driver assume you’re a terrible driver.

You should also know people here can have a thick accent.

Very few "r's" are pronounced in words.

Like "Pahk the cah" means "park the car."

The capital region of New Hampshire is well-known for its low violent crime rate, dating back at least a decade.

In fact, Concord's violent crime rate has been cut in half since 2011.

That's one reason a double murder of a couple walking a popular Concord trail shocked the community.

No motive was given, and the suspect is known to have a long criminal history.

It appears to be a random act of violence, as the couple in their 60s were simply taking a walk after returning from the Peace Corps.

In another growing trend nationwide, juvenile crime is a concern.

In an April 2022 incident, a 17-year-old girl reported she was randomly attacked by a middle schooler.

She says he punched her in the face and then ran off.

Several juveniles were running around White Park at the time of the incident.

The highest theft category here is shoplifting, accounting for 33% of all thefts since 2017.

21% of thefts were related to car break-ins or accessory thefts.

47% of all robberies have been in homes.

Pembroke has lower crime rates in an already low-crime region.

Common sense and situational awareness paired with standard personal safety measures will go a long way here.

Statistics are a great starting point, but when you see real-life crime stories that impact total strangers, it's enough to keep your guard up even more.

These are isolated incidents, mind you, and a great reason why all suspicious activity should be reported immediately.