Compare towns
Plaistow vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($405k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Windham 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Windham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Windham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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.