Compare towns
Bow vs Enfield vs Sunapee vs Wolfeboro
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%).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Enfield | Sunapee | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,475 |
3,416Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
56.7±1.4 31% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
| Enfield and Wolfeboro 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% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Sunapee 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% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Sunapee 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 75% above NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$101,393±$20k about the NH average |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Sunapee 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 |
$6,203 7% below NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Sunapee 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% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 min 11% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Bow 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #14 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Sunapee School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.9 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.