Compare towns

Barnard vs Bow vs Middlesex

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).

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.

MeasureBarnardBowMiddlesex
People
Population
1,211Lowest
8,335Highest
1,943
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.4±6
9% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.4±3.9Highest
14% above U.S.
Middlesex and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
26.9%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barnard and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Barnard and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
55.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,581±$19kLowest
21% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$109,632±$13k
36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$402,600±$71k
21% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$376,300±$40kLowest
13% above U.S.
Bow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,372±$80
about the U.S. average
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,333±$359Lowest
6% below U.S.
Bow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,038Lowest
94% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$6,483
108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
27%±19.8
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
8% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±10.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Bow School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
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

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.