Compare towns
Eliot vs Bow vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Eliot | Bow | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Bow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.