What stands out worked out from the figures below

Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).

Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Center Harbor	Bow
People
Population	955Lowest	8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH	41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH
Kids under 18	11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1%	17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	60.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH	$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$74kLowest 15% above NH	$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH
	Bow and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,539±$178 3% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,667Lowest 30% below NH	$9,584Highest 44% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2%	39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bow and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2%Lowest NH: 7.2%	2.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91%Highest NH: 72.8%	87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 8% below NH	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Bow School District
High school in town	—	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.