Compare towns
Auburn vs Bow vs Grantham vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Grantham has the most affordable homes ($343k median).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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 | Auburn | Bow | Grantham | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
8,335Highest |
3,465 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Grantham and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Bow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
— | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Auburn and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 min 16% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Bow School District | Grantham School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.