Compare towns
Addison vs Bow vs Ripton vs Mendon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 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 | Addison | Bow | Ripton | Mendon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,175 |
8,335Highest |
508Lowest |
1,113 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 9% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Addison and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 87% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Mendon 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



