Compare towns

Richmond vs Bow vs Pelham

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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.

MeasureRichmondBowPelham
People
Population
4,159Lowest
8,335
14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±5.6Highest
12% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
Richmond and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
22%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Richmond and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,235±$24kLowest
34% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$135,956±$19k
68% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39kLowest
30% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Lowest
120% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Lowest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Bow 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 #5 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Bow School District Pelham School District
High school in town None in town Bow High School Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Highest
10.4Lowest
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.