Compare towns
Bow vs Atkinson vs Suncook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Bow | Atkinson | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
7,267 |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
| Bow and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Atkinson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,140±$32 24% below NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$6,975 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.