Compare towns
Bow vs Berwick vs Plainfield vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($369k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Bow | Berwick | Plainfield | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
8,175 |
2,522Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Berwick 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #19 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Plainfield School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | 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 |
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.