Compare towns
Bow vs Canaan 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Canaan | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
3,811 |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Canaan 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% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest 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% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Bow 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. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.