Compare towns

Bow vs Windham vs Danvers vs Dunbarton

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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).

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.

MeasureBowWindhamDanversDunbarton
People
Population
8,335
16,038
28,098Highest
3,097Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.3±3
16% above U.S.
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
Dunbarton and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±4.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Danvers and Dunbarton 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%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Danvers 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.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$125,395±$10k
55% above U.S.
$124,348±$21kLowest
54% above U.S.
Windham 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.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$644,200±$23k
94% above U.S.
$484,100±$33kLowest
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$2,076±$192
47% above U.S.
$1,166±$70Lowest
17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,654Lowest
113% above U.S.
$8,233
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
48.8%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1990
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
17% above U.S.
28 min
8% above U.S.
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #91 of 282 in MA #33 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Windham School District Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers Dunbarton School District
High school in town Bow High School Windham High School Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
12.8
12.8
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.