Compare towns
Bow vs Webster vs Boscawen
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
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 | Webster | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,227Lowest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Boscawen and Webster 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% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Webster 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% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Webster 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 |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Bow and Webster 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 |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,549 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Boscawen 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% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Webster 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 | — | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Merrimack Valley 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 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.