Compare towns
Bow vs Grantham vs Cornish vs Suncook
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).
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Grantham | Cornish | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
3,465 |
1,816Lowest |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Cornish and Grantham 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% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Suncook 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% |
17%±6.9 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Grantham 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 |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
| Bow and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
— | $1,221±$227 18% below NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Bow and Cornish 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 |
$7,605 14% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,975 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
— | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Suncook and Cornish 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% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 16% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Suncook 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Grantham School District | Cornish School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| 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.