Compare towns
Bow vs Plainfield vs Suncook
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%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Plainfield | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Bow and Plainfield 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% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Plainfield and Bow 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Suncook 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Plainfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.