Compare towns
Bow vs Center Harbor vs Holderness
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%).
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.
| Measure | Bow | Center Harbor | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
955Lowest |
1,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Holderness 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% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness 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% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Holderness 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 |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Bow and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
— | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Bow 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 |
$4,667 30% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | 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.