Compare towns
Bow vs Keene vs Mapleton vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most expensive homes ($507k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Keene | Mapleton | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
22,939Highest |
1,884Lowest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Keene 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Bow and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Keene 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Union 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Keene School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.