Compare towns
Bow vs Pelham vs Barnstead
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 highest household income ($173k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | Pelham | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
14,449Highest |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
42.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
| Barnstead 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%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Barnstead 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% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below 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±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Bow and Pelham 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 |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Barnstead 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% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Pelham School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.