Compare towns
Northfield vs Bow vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Northfield | Bow | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971Lowest |
8,335Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Northfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.