Compare towns
Bow vs Ripton vs Windham 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 most kids (25% under 18).
Ripton has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ripton | Windham | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
508Lowest |
594 |
6,037 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
45±2.8 16% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Hopkinton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$137,477±$21k 70% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hopkinton 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. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$506,900±$54kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
— | — | $1,270±$129Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Bow and Hopkinton 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. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.4%±6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 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 | — | — | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | 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 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.