Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Pittsfield vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Pittsfield has the most renters (31.2% rent).
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 | Hillsborough | Pittsfield | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980 |
4,105Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
41.5±5.1Highest 4% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Pittsfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9% NH: 40.6% |
22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,495±$12k 15% below NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$294,800±$30k 27% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815 13% below NH |
$5,694Lowest 15% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hillsborough 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Pittsfield School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Pittsfield High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.