Compare towns
Bow vs Bennington vs Andover
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%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Andover has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Bennington | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,588Lowest |
2,135 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
46±11.6Highest 6% above NH |
| Andover and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bow 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% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bennington 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 |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$88,514±$27k 11% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$366,500±$44k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,211±$190Lowest 19% below NH |
| Bow and Bennington 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 |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$5,962 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.1%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Andover and Bow 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
34 min 28% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Bennington 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 | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Andover School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | 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.