Compare towns
Bow vs Gorham vs Hampden
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).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Gorham | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
18,300Highest |
7,896Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Gorham 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% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Bow and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Gorham and Bow 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Gorham 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Hampden 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bow School District | Gorham Public Schools | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Gorham High School | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.9 |
14.8Highest |
| 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.