Compare towns
Bow vs Hampton vs Rye vs Wolfeboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 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 | Hampton | Rye | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
10,101Highest |
5,611Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Rye 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% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Hampton 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 |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Bow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Rye and Hampton 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 |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Wolfeboro 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Rye School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.