Compare towns
Concord vs Bow vs Hopkinton vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Bow | Hopkinton | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
8,335 |
6,037Lowest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry 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%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton 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% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Bow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Bow 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 |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
| Derry and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Bow School District | Hopkinton School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Bow High School | Hopkinton High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
12.8 |
12.0Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.