Compare towns
North Hampton vs Pelham 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
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | North Hampton | Pelham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
14,449Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 | $146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$135,956±$19kLowest 37% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$552,600±$27k 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| North Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Pelham 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Pelham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pelham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
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.