Compare towns
Lebanon 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
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Lebanon | Plainfield | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 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.