Compare towns
Bow vs Hudson vs Madbury
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 the highest household income ($173k).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
25,557Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Bow 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% |
20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Bow 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest 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±$6kLowest 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Bow and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Bow and Madbury 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 |
$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Hudson and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Hudson 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest 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 | Oyster River Coop 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.