Compare towns
Concord vs Somersworth 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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Somersworth | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
12,111 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
| Bow and Concord 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% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Concord and Bow 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Somersworth 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Concord 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Somersworth School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Somersworth High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.