Compare towns
Pelham vs Townsend vs Bow
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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
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 | Pelham | Townsend | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449Highest |
9,100 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 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. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% 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±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | North Middlesex | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | North Middlesex Regional | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.