Compare towns
Bow vs Dunbarton vs Norwich vs Strafford
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 highest household income ($173k).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Norwich | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
3,097Lowest |
3,640 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Strafford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Strafford 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 114% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Norwich 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Dunbarton School District | Norwich School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.