Compare towns
Bow vs Gorham vs Hopkinton
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%).
Hopkinton 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 | Gorham | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
18,300Highest |
6,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45±2.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hopkinton 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Hopkinton 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. |
$112,312±$6kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$137,477±$21k 70% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hopkinton 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. |
$460,900±$26kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$506,900±$54kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton 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 9% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,270±$129Lowest 10% 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 | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopkinton and Bow 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% |
6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Gorham Public Schools | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Gorham High School | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.9Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| 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.