Compare towns
Bow vs Holderness vs Plaistow
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%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% 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 | Holderness | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,917Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Bow and Plaistow 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% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plaistow 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Plaistow 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 |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Holderness and Plaistow 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Holderness School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.