Compare towns
Sullivan 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
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Sullivan | Bow | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
8,335 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Sullivan and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest 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+ | 20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest 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 | $106,667±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% 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 | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Bow and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Pelham School District |
| High school 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 |
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.