Compare towns
Bow vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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.
| Measure | Bow | Plainfield | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% 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 |
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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% 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% |
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±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% 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 | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below 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% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #61 of 70 in VT |
| 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 |
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.