Compare towns
Concord vs Dedham 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 most affordable homes ($351k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Dedham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
25,237 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Dedham 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 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Lowest 132% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Dedham | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Dedham High | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.