Compare towns
Bow vs Merrimack vs Newfields vs Dunbarton
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 the most kids (25% under 18).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k median).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Merrimack | Newfields | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
28,164Highest |
2,023Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Newfields 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% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$16k 75% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
| Newfields 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 26% above NH |
$458,600±$15kLowest 14% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Merrimack and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Newfields 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% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Bow 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Merrimack School District | Newfields School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Merrimack High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.