Compare towns
Bow vs Deering vs Madison
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%).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Deering | Madison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,938Lowest |
2,680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.8±5.7 13% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
| Madison and Deering 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% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Madison 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% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Deering and Madison 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% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Madison 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 |
$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,306±$116Lowest 12% below NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
| Madison 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 |
$6,223 7% below NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Madison 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% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Madison 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 History | 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.