Compare towns
Lee vs Plainfield vs Bow vs Mont Vernon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Mont Vernon has the most expensive homes ($526k median).
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 | Lee | Plainfield | Bow | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,522Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,636 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 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+ | 22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$122,656±$13kLowest 24% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Bow and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47kLowest 10% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Plainfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest 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 |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Plainfield School District | Bow School District | Mont Vernon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.