Compare towns
Pelham vs Bow vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Pelham | Bow | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
8,335Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest 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 | $135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$127,219±$16kLowest 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% 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 | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Bow School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Bow High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.