Compare towns
Bow vs Hampton vs Pelham
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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
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.
| Measure | Bow | Hampton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
10,101 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 75% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampton 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 |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Hampton 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.