Compare towns
Plaistow vs New Ipswich vs Bow
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 most renters (21.9% rent).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | New Ipswich | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861 |
5,310Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Bow 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
$110,507±$9k 12% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Plaistow and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 8% above NH |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #66 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.