Compare towns
Bow vs Madison vs Jaffrey
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%).
Madison has the oldest population (median age 50.3).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Madison | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,680Lowest |
5,448 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
| Madison and Jaffrey 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% |
23.1%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Madison 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% |
23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Madison and Jaffrey 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Jaffrey 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 |
$102,697±$11k 4% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$388,700±$36k 3% below NH |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
| Madison 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 |
$4,074Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,196 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
| Madison and Jaffrey 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | — | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Madison School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 21.3Highest |
| 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.