Compare towns
Bow vs Norwich vs Plainfield vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($442k median).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Norwich | Plainfield | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
3,640 |
2,522Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Norwich 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 114% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,904Lowest 153% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #19 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Norwich School District | Plainfield School District | Dunbarton 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 |
U.S. 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.