Compare towns
Concord vs Plainfield vs Worcester vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Plainfield has the oldest population (median age 48.1).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Concord | Plainfield | Worcester | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
1,314 |
831Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48.1±5.5Highest 24% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 5% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 132% above U.S. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | — | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | — | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | — | 12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.