Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bedford vs Bow vs Grantham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
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 | Plainfield | Bedford | Bow | Grantham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
23,746Highest |
8,335 |
3,465 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Grantham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$106,403±$54kLowest 7% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
— |
| Bedford and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 19% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$7,605Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
— |
| Bedford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 16% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #6 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Bedford School District | Bow School District | Grantham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.