Compare towns
Bow vs Litchfield 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 most kids (25% under 18).
Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k 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.
| Measure | Bow | Litchfield | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
8,499 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.1±1.7Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Litchfield 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 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Pelham 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$162,036±$11k 64% above NH |
$135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
| Bow and Litchfield 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 |
$485,000±$18kLowest 20% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| 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±$178 3% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,273Lowest 24% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Lowest 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Litchfield School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Campbell High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4 |
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.