Compare towns

Plymouth vs Norwich vs Bow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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.

MeasurePlymouthNorwichBow
People
Population
6,601
3,640Lowest
8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
24.6±3.4Lowest
37% below U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
33.7%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,027±$26kLowest
5% below U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,400±$22kLowest
12% below U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,108±$255Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,288Lowest
102% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.8%±11.6
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Lowest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
11.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH
School district Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District Norwich 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

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.