Compare towns
Andover vs Bow vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Andover | Bow | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135 |
8,335Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 6% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Andover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 9% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Salisbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 11% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Andover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — |
| School district | Andover School District | Bow School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.