Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bow vs Sanbornton vs Chichester
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Chichester has the most affordable homes ($409k 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 | Plainfield | Bow | Sanbornton | Chichester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
8,335Highest |
3,053 |
2,745 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
| Chichester and Sanbornton 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.4 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% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sanbornton 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$409,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Bow and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
| Chichester 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 |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Chichester 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH | #75 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Bow School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Chichester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.