Compare towns
Bow vs Berlin 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%).
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k median).
Suncook has the youngest population (median age 37.9).
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 | Berlin | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
9,383Highest |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
44.6±2.8Highest 3% above NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Berlin and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±2.8Lowest 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% |
20.1%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Berlin and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Berlin 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 |
$45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
$79,836±$25k 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
$361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$1,091±$317 27% below NH |
| Bow and Suncook 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 |
$3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
$6,975 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.7%±12 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Suncook and Berlin 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% |
15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1951 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 minLowest 30% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Suncook 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 | #108 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Berlin School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Berlin Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
8.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.