Compare towns
Bow vs Norwich vs Lebanon vs Hopkinton
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).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
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 | Norwich | Lebanon | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
3,640Lowest |
14,999Highest |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
45±2.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Hopkinton 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% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon 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. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$137,477±$21k 70% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$506,900±$54k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,270±$129Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Lebanon 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. |
$8,149Lowest 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.8%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Norwich School District | Lebanon School District | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
12.0 |
| 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.