Compare towns
Bow vs Hampton vs Townsend 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).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Townsend | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
10,101Highest |
9,100 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Dunbarton 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% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Townsend 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% |
26.9%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Townsend 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. |
$97,163±$4kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$1,654±$93Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Hampton 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. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Townsend 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Hampton 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | North Middlesex | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.