Compare towns
Bow vs Hudson vs Lyndeborough
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%).
Hudson has the most renters (17.4% rent).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Hudson | Lyndeborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
25,557Highest |
1,616Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
| Lyndeborough and Hudson 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% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyndeborough and Hudson 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% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Bow 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 |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$116,964±$17kLowest 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
| Hudson and Bow 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 |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$7,133 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 18% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Hudson School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Alvirne High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.