Compare towns
Plymouth vs Kensington 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
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Kensington | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,601 |
2,009Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kensington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Kensington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Kensington 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Kensington School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | 12.8 |
| 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.