Compare towns

Bow vs Dedham vs Suncook

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%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k 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.

MeasureBowDedhamSuncook
People
Population
8,335
25,237Highest
5,432Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
44.6±1.6Highest
15% above U.S.
37.9±8.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
Dedham and Bow 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%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Suncook 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%
21.9%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dedham and Bow 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%
55%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$128,955±$10k
60% above U.S.
$79,836±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$661,800±$16kHighest
99% above U.S.
$361,100±$22kLowest
9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$2,042±$182Highest
45% above U.S.
$1,091±$317Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$7,918
154% above U.S.
$6,975Lowest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±10Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.2%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Dedham and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1956
24 yrs older than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Dedham 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 #119 of 282 in MA —
School district Bow School District Dedham —
High school in town Bow High School Dedham High —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.4Lowest
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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.