Compare towns
Concord vs Kensington vs Bow vs Boscawen
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).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k 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.
| Measure | Concord | Kensington | Bow | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
2,009Lowest |
8,335 |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Lowest 6% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Boscawen and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Boscawen 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Kensington 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% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Concord and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Bow and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,549Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Concord and Boscawen 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Kensington 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 | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Kensington School District | Bow School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.