Compare towns
Bow vs Derry vs Keene
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Derry | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
34,116Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Bow and Derry 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% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Derry 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Keene 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| 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.