Compare towns
Bow vs Rye vs Hampton vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Rye | Hampton | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
5,611 |
10,101Highest |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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 75% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Bow and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Rye and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Rye School District | — | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.