Compare towns
Dorset vs Windham 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
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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 | Dorset | Windham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
16,038Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Bow 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Windham School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.