Compare towns
Bow vs Madbury vs Mont Vernon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
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 | Madbury | Mont Vernon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,203Lowest |
2,636 |
2,522 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
| Bow and Mont Vernon 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Plainfield and Madbury 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | — | #4 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon 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.