Compare towns
Bow vs Chichester vs Northfield
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%).
Chichester has the oldest population (median age 43).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Chichester | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,745Lowest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43±3.3Highest about the NH average |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Chichester and Northfield 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% |
20.3%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow and Chichester 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% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Northfield 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 |
$109,297±$13k 10% above NH |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$409,300±$26k about the NH average |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,189 8% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Chichester 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19%±8 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Chichester 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 | #75 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Chichester School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | 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.