Compare towns
Bow vs Pelham vs Somersworth
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%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
14,449Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Lowest 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%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest 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% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest 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 |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% 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±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
| Bow and Somersworth 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Somersworth 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Pelham School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Pelham High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.