Compare towns
Somersworth vs Bow vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.
| Measure | Somersworth | Bow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,111 |
8,335Lowest |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Somersworth School District | Bow School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Somersworth High School | Bow High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.