Compare towns
Bow vs Dunbarton vs Needham
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 the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Dunbarton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
3,097Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Bow 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$8,233Lowest 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Dunbarton 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% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | Dunbarton School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| 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.