Compare towns
Bow vs Lancaster vs Walpole
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Walpole has the most renters (30.1% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Walpole |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
3,216Lowest |
3,690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
| Walpole and Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Walpole 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%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Walpole 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% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Walpole 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 |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Walpole 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | #27 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional 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.