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.

MeasureAddisonBowRiptonMendon
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.