Compare towns
Dummerston vs Jay vs Bow vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Dummerston | Jay | Bow | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
471Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
| Jay and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Bow and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536 45% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Jay 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 | — | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Bow School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.