Compare towns
Plainfield vs Bow vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,522Lowest |
8,335Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Bow 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 52% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Bow and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,904 153% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Plainfield 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 | — |
| School district | Plainfield School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.