Compare towns
Bow vs Lebanon vs Newfields vs Suncook
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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Lebanon | Newfields | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
14,999Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Newfields 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Suncook 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
| Newfields and Bow 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Suncook and Newfields 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Lebanon School District | Newfields School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.