Compare towns
Bow vs South Berwick vs Keene vs Auburn
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 highest household income ($173k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | South Berwick | Keene | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
7,670 |
22,939Highest |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Bow 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% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene 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% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
| Bow and Auburn 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. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and South Berwick 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Keene 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% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Marshwood High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.