Compare towns
Bow vs Temple vs Wilton
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 most kids (25% under 18).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Wilton has the most renters (23% 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.
| Measure | Bow | Temple | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,363Lowest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
46.8±5.2 8% above NH |
| Temple and Wilton 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% |
14.3%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton and Temple 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% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Wilton 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 |
$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH |
$114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$401,000±$27k about the NH average |
$381,500±$23kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,382±$70 7% below NH |
| Bow and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,983Lowest 5% above NH |
$7,612 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Wilton 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% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
77%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Temple 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 | — | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| 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.