Compare towns
Bow vs Kensington vs South Hampton
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 affordable homes ($507k median).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Kensington | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,009 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and South Hampton 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% |
18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Kensington 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 |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$152,500±$44kLowest 54% above NH |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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 |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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 |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and South Hampton 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Kensington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Kensington School District | South Hampton 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.