Compare towns

Bow vs Norwich vs Dover vs Dunbarton

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 the highest household income ($173k).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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.

MeasureBowNorwichDoverDunbarton
People
Population
8,335
3,640
33,364Highest
3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8
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%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Dover 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±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$124,348±$21k
54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$436,700±$20kLowest
31% above U.S.
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,607±$100Highest
14% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
Dover and Bow 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.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$8,233Lowest
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and Dover 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%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Norwich 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 #1 of 70 in VT #64 of 120 in NH #33 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Norwich School District Dover School District Dunbarton School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town Dover Senior High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
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12.7Lowest
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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.