Compare towns
Bennington vs Bow vs Dunbarton vs Epping
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Bennington | Bow | Dunbarton | Epping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
8,335Highest |
3,097 |
7,430 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
| Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 38% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Bow School District | Dunbarton School District | Epping School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | Epping High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
| 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.