Compare towns
Bow vs Cornwall vs Northfield
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%).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Cornwall | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,208Lowest |
5,920 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Northfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Bow and Cornwall 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. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$4,878Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northfield and Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bow School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.