Compare towns
Bow vs Wolfeboro vs Alstead
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%).
Wolfeboro has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Wolfeboro | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
6,571 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Alstead 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% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Alstead 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% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Alstead 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 |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.