Compare towns
Bow vs Hancock vs Wilmot
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%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Hancock | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,791 |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
| Hancock and Wilmot 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% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Wilmot 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 NH: 40.6% |
53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Hancock 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 |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Bow and Hancock 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 |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Wilmot and Bow 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% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Wilmot 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.