Compare towns

Bow vs Marblehead 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).

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.

MeasureBowMarbleheadDunbarton
People
Population
8,335
20,413Highest
3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
49.1±2Highest
26% above U.S.
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
Marblehead and Dunbarton 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%
22.3%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Marblehead and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Marblehead 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
114% above U.S.
$182,132±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
$124,348±$21kLowest
54% above U.S.
Marblehead 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
52% above U.S.
$943,900±$31kHighest
184% above U.S.
$484,100±$33kLowest
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,764±$147Highest
25% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
Marblehead and Bow 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.
$8,309
166% above U.S.
$8,233Lowest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.5%±8.8
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and Marblehead 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%
4.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1944Lowest
36 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
33 min
25% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #26 of 120 in NH #47 of 282 in MA #33 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Marblehead Dunbarton School District
High school in town Bow High School Marblehead High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.7Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.