Compare towns
Bow vs Stoddard vs Washington
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).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 55).
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 | Stoddard | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,072Lowest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
53±4 22% above NH |
55±4.7Highest 27% above NH |
| Washington and Stoddard 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% |
17.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
29%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Washington and Stoddard 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% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
32%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Washington 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 |
$94,904±$11k 4% below NH |
$89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stoddard 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Washington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Stoddard School District | Washington 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 |
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.