Compare towns
Bow vs Cornish vs Plainfield vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sanbornton has the most renters (14.1% 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 | Bow | Cornish | Plainfield | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,816Lowest |
2,522 |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Cornish and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 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+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Sanbornton 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 NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| 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 75% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Bow and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| 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 44% above NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Cornish and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Cornish School District | Plainfield School District | Winnisquam Regional 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 |
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.