Compare towns
Bow vs Dunstable vs Pepperell
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Dunstable has the most expensive homes ($674k median).
Pepperell has the most affordable homes ($482k 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 | Dunstable | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
3,408Lowest |
11,663Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Bow 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% |
22.4%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dunstable 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% |
15%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell 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. |
$208,512±$23kHighest 158% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Dunstable and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$674,000±$30kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kLowest 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,325±$637 6% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Bow and Dunstable are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$9,020 189% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±77.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunstable and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Dunstable 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 | #4 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | Groton-Dunstable | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.