Compare towns

Bow vs Plainfield vs Windham vs Windsor

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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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.

MeasureBowPlainfieldWindhamWindsor
People
Population
8,335
2,522Lowest
16,038Highest
3,554
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
44.8±6.5Highest
15% above U.S.
Windsor 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
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.7%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor 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%
46.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$16k
114% above U.S.
$122,656±$13k
52% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$52,484±$11kLowest
35% below U.S.
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$442,400±$47k
33% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$207,500±$31kLowest
38% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,026±$89Lowest
27% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$7,904
153% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,209Lowest
67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.5%±17Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #61 of 70 in VT
School district Bow School District Plainfield School District Windham School District —
High school in town Bow High School None in town Windham High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
—
12.8
—
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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.