Compare towns
Kensington vs Plainfield 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
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Kensington | Plainfield | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
2,522 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kensington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Kensington and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Kensington 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 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Plainfield School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
| 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.