Compare towns
Bow vs Hampton vs Merrimack
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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Hampton | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
16,426 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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 |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
| 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±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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 NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Winnacunnet High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.