Compare towns
Litchfield vs Bow vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Litchfield has the most affordable homes ($485k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Litchfield | Bow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,499 |
8,335Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Litchfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11k 64% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
| Bow and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18kLowest 20% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273Lowest 24% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Bow School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | Bow High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.