Compare towns
Bow vs Middleton vs Webster
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%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Webster has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Middleton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,595Lowest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.5±5.7 about the NH average |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster and Middleton 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% |
18.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Webster 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% |
18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster and Middleton 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% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Middleton 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 |
$101,696±$8kLowest about the NH average |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,500±$293 about the NH average |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Bow and Middleton 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 |
$5,504Lowest 17% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Webster 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% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Webster 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Middleton School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.