Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Newmarket vs Plymouth 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
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hopkinton | Newmarket | Plymouth | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,037Lowest |
9,463Highest |
6,601 |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Newmarket and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Newmarket School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.