Compare towns
Bow vs Jackson vs Dunbarton
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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k 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 | Jackson | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
897Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson 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% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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 |
$117,986±$46kLowest 19% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Jackson 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 | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Jackson School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | 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.