Compare towns
Bow vs Norwich vs Merrimack
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Merrimack has the most affordable homes ($459k 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 | Norwich | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
3,640Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5Lowest 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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. |
$127,219±$16kLowest 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,345Lowest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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% |
3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3Lowest 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Norwich School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.