Compare towns
Bow vs Reading vs Windham 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.
| Measure | Bow | Reading | Windham | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
25,612Highest |
16,038 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Dunbarton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow 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% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Dunbarton 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% |
66.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Windham 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 114% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13k 106% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$124,348±$21kLowest 54% above U.S. |
| Windham 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 52% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273 41% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,320 199% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,233Lowest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Reading | Windham School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Reading Memorial High | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.