Compare towns
Bow vs Durham vs Henniker 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
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Henniker | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,080Highest |
6,197 |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Bow and Plainfield 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 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+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 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+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Bow and Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Henniker 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Henniker School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.