Compare towns
Benson vs Bow vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
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 | Benson | Bow | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 784 |
8,335Highest |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4 33% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,146 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — |
| 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.