Compare towns

Bow vs Suncook vs Townsend

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%).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).

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.

MeasureBowSuncookTownsend
People
Population
8,335
5,432Lowest
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
37.9±8.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.9±3.3
5% above U.S.
Bow and Townsend 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%
19.8%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Townsend 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%
31.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Townsend 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.
$79,836±$25kLowest
about the U.S. average
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$361,100±$22kLowest
9% above U.S.
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,091±$317Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
Bow and Townsend 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.
$6,975
124% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.2%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Suncook 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%
12.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Suncook 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 — #136 of 282 in MA
School district Bow School District — North Middlesex
High school in town Bow High School — North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
—
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.