Compare towns

Bow vs Dummerston vs Pelham

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).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureBowDummerstonPelham
People
Population
8,335
2,090Lowest
14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
45.6±11.7Highest
17% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
Dummerston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Pelham 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%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham and Bow 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.
$101,696±$21kLowest
26% above U.S.
$135,956±$19k
68% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$335,300±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,392±$126Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,425±$88
about the U.S. average
Bow and Pelham 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.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Dummerston and Pelham 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 — #48 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Pelham School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.