Compare towns
Bow vs Stratton vs Wardsboro vs Dunbarton
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 most people working from home (22.7%).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
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 | Stratton | Wardsboro | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
532Lowest |
820 |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
31.5±4.1Lowest 19% below U.S. |
51.6±7.3Highest 33% above U.S. |
48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Dunbarton 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% |
28%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratton 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wardsboro and Dunbarton 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% |
33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 114% above U.S. |
$122,708±$33k 52% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$124,348±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$400,000±$50k 20% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33k 46% above U.S. |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,208±$979 15% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
$1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
| Bow and Wardsboro 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. |
$4,750 52% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$8,233 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±69.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dunbarton and Wardsboro 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% |
0%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Wardsboro 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 | — | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | 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 History | 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.