Compare towns
Bow vs Salisbury vs Bristol
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 highest household income ($173k).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k 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 | Salisbury | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,609Lowest |
3,273 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Bristol 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% |
20.1%±9.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bristol 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% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury and Bristol 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 NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bristol 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 |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH |
| Salisbury and Bow 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 |
$5,859 12% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bristol and Bow 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% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.