Compare towns
Plaistow vs Concord vs Bow vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
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 | Plaistow | Concord | Bow | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,861 |
44,375Highest |
8,335 |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| Bow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Bow and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Newton 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Bow School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Concord High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
12.8 |
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| 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.