Compare towns
Bow vs Mapleton vs Townsend vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
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 | Mapleton | Townsend | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
1,884Lowest |
9,100Highest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton and Mapleton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Townsend 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 114% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Middlesex | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.