Compare towns
Bow vs Topsham 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 the highest household income ($173k).
Topsham has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
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 | Topsham | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
9,706 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Topsham 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% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest 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±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% 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 | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Concord and Topsham 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Topsham 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Mt Ararat High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.2Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.