Compare towns
Bow vs Bedford vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Dorset 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 | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
23,746Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Bedford 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 114% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| 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±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bedford 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 | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Bedford School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.