Compare towns

Bow vs Norwich vs Suncook 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
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.

MeasureBowNorwichSuncookHopkinton
People
Population
8,335Highest
3,640Lowest
5,432
6,037
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
37.9±8.1Lowest
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%
19.8%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±4.1Lowest
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%
16.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hopkinton 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%
31.4%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%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hopkinton 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.
$79,836±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$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.
$361,100±$22kLowest
9% above U.S.
$506,900±$54k
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,091±$317Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,270±$129
10% below U.S.
Bow and Norwich 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.
$6,975Lowest
124% 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%
48.2%±21.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.4%±6
U.S.: 51.1%
Suncook and Hopkinton 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%
12.9%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%
59.5%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.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.8%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hopkinton and Bow 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 — #28 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Norwich School District — Hopkinton School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town — Hopkinton High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
— —
12.0Lowest
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.