Compare towns
Bow vs Bedford vs Concord vs Hopkinton
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 most kids (25% under 18).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Bedford | Concord | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
23,746 |
44,375Highest |
6,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
40.7±1.3Lowest 6% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Concord 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 |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford 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 |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Concord 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Hopkinton 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Bedford School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School | Concord High School | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
13.0 |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.