Compare towns
Bow vs Epping vs Madison vs Weare
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 the highest household income ($173k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Madison has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Epping | Madison | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
7,430 |
2,680Lowest |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
45.6±4 5% above NH |
| Madison and Weare 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Madison and Epping 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,556±$256 4% above NH |
$1,541±$214 3% above NH |
| Epping and Madison 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Weare 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Epping School District | Madison School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Epping High School | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.