Compare towns
Bow vs Keene vs Somersworth vs Auburn
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 most kids (25% under 18).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Somersworth | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
22,939Highest |
12,111 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
| Auburn and Bow 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Somersworth 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% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Bow and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,092 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Keene 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Bow 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Keene School District | Somersworth School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Keene High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.3 |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.