Compare towns
Pelham vs Bow vs Cornwall
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
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 | Pelham | Bow | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
8,335 |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kLowest 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,726Lowest 116% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Pelham School District | Bow School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.