Compare towns
Bow vs Franklin vs Highgate vs Dunbarton
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).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Highgate has the oldest housing (typical home built 1980).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Franklin | Highgate | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,590Lowest |
3,528 |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
44±7.4 13% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Highgate 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% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Highgate and Dunbarton 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% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin 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. |
$79,917±$21kLowest about the U.S. average |
$81,017±$14k about the U.S. average |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$247,400±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$280,500±$21k 16% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above 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. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$895±$691 37% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,558 14% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Franklin 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% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Franklin 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.