Compare towns
Bow vs Kensington vs Madbury 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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Kensington | Madbury | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,009Lowest |
2,203 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bow 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 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 |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Kensington 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 |
| School district | Bow School District | Kensington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield 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.