Compare towns
Windham vs Plaistow vs Dorchester vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Plaistow has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Plaistow | Dorchester | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
7,861 |
410Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
— | $172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
— | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Timberlane Regional High School | — | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.