Compare towns
Bow vs New Hampton vs Bennington
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 highest household income ($173k).
New Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | New Hampton | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,509 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| New Hampton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bow 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% |
24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| New Hampton 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and New Hampton 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 |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Bow and Bennington 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 |
$4,973Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Bennington 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 22% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Bennington 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 | Newfound Area School District | Contoocook 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.