Compare towns
Bow vs Sheldon vs Troy
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%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Troy has the most affordable homes ($233k 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 | Sheldon | Troy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,267 |
1,749Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Troy 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% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Troy 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Troy 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. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
$646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
| Bow and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Troy 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Troy 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 History | 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.