Compare towns
Barnstead vs Bow vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Barnstead | Bow | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
8,335 |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
| Hudson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
| Hudson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,636 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hudson 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Bow School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.