Compare towns
Bow vs Topsfield vs Concord
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%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% 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 | Topsfield | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
6,564Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Highest 8% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Bow 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% |
24.8%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Topsfield and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Bow 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. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,227Lowest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Concord and Topsfield 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% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Topsfield | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.