Compare towns
Raymond vs Bow vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Raymond has the most affordable homes ($370k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
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 | Raymond | Bow | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,900Highest |
8,335 |
7,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.4±3.8Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Raymond and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 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+ | 18%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Raymond and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,597±$10kLowest 6% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,400±$17kLowest 8% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,376±$196Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% 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 | $6,146Lowest 8% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±11.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #96 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Raymond School District | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Raymond High School | Bow High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.