Compare towns
Bow vs Canton vs Windham vs Dunbarton
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Canton has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Canton | Windham | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
24,748Highest |
16,038 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Canton 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% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Windham and Canton 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. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$6,560Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Windham School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Canton High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.