What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bow	Bethlehem
People
Population	8,335Highest	2,537Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
	Bethlehem 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%	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bow and Bethlehem 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%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,584Highest 44% above NH	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bethlehem 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%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem and Bow 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	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Bow School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	Bow High School	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	8.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.