Compare towns
Eliot vs Pelham 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Pelham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
14,449Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pelham and Bow 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. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Bow 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. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Bow 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. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #48 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Pelham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.