Compare towns
Concord vs Hampton vs Keene 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
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Hampton | Keene | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
16,426 |
22,939 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest 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 |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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% |
14.1%±1.6 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% 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% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below 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±$43 3% below NH |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$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% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 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 |
17 minLowest 36% 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% |
15.6%±2.7 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 | #81 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 | Keene School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Winnacunnet High School | Keene High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.1Lowest |
12.3 |
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.