Compare towns

Concord vs Bow vs Epping vs Keene

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 the highest household income ($173k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.

MeasureConcordBowEppingKeene
People
Population
44,375Highest
8,335
7,430Lowest
22,939
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
+11.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.7±1.3
6% below NH
41.5±2
4% below NH
45.1±3.5Highest
4% above NH
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
Epping 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
NH: 18.2%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±4.8
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±1.5
NH: 20.1%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Epping and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%
NH: 40.6%
60.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
37%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
5.1%±3.3Lowest
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,902±$5k
14% below NH
$172,857±$16kHighest
75% above NH
$104,220±$7k
5% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,900±$13k
13% below NH
$506,500±$34kHighest
26% above NH
$436,900±$35k
9% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,441±$43
3% below NH
$1,539±$178
3% above NH
$1,742±$576Highest
17% above NH
$1,342±$68Lowest
10% below NH
Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,227
8% above NH
$9,584Highest
44% above NH
$6,936
4% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±5.2
NH: 48.2%
39%±13.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
67.8%±25.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1
NH: 48.2%
Epping and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
NH: 7.2%
2.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.8%
NH: 72.8%
87.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969
10 yrs older than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1989Highest
10 yrs newer than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
32 minHighest
21% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
Work from home
14.1%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
22.7%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
24%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 16.8%
Epping 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 #89 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH #77 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Bow School District Epping School District Keene School District
High school in town Concord High School Bow High School Epping High School Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
12.8
9.3Lowest
12.3
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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.