Compare towns
Auburn vs Bow vs Cornish vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Auburn | Bow | Cornish | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
8,335Highest |
1,816Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Cornish and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Bow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Auburn and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Bow School District | Cornish School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.