Compare towns
Concord vs Hampton vs Dover vs Bow
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 affordable homes ($351k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Hampton | Dover | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
16,426 |
33,364 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Concord 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 |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Hampton and Dover 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 |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Dover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dover School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Winnacunnet High School | Dover Senior High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.7 |
12.8 |
| 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.