Compare towns
Bow vs Meredith vs Norwich vs Wolfeboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Meredith | Norwich | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
6,758 |
3,640Lowest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich 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% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wolfeboro and Meredith 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Norwich 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60k 64% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Wolfeboro 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith and Bow 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Wolfeboro 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Norwich School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.