Compare towns

Bow vs Dunbarton vs Springfield

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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureBowDunbartonSpringfield
People
Population
8,335
3,097Lowest
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Springfield 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%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Dunbarton 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%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield and Bow 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.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,166±$70
17% below U.S.
$1,144±$55Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$8,233
164% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% 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%
57.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield 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%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Dunbarton 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 #276 of 282 in MA
School district Bow School District Dunbarton School District Springfield
High school in town Bow High School None in town Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
12.2Lowest
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.