Compare towns
Bow vs Bartlett vs Canaan
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 the highest household income ($173k).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Bartlett | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
3,281Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan 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 |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Bartlett and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.5% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
79% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Canaan 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 | #74 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Bartlett School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.