Compare towns
Bow vs Newfields vs Thornton
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).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Newfields | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,023Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Thornton 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below 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 |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newfields and Bow 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Newfields 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Newfields School District | Thornton 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.