Compare towns
Bow vs Lee vs Mont Vernon
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%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Mont Vernon has the most expensive homes ($526k 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 | Lee | Mont Vernon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
4,576 |
2,636Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Mont Vernon 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Bow 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 |
$131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
| Bow and Mont Vernon 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 |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
— | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Bow 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon 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 | 10 photos → | 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.


