Compare towns
Concord vs Barre vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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.
| Measure | Concord | Barre | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
8,412 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6Highest 8% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Barre and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barre and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 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 | $84,902±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 5% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 about the U.S. average |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227 132% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 120 in NH | #19 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Spaulding Union High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.