Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Bedford 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
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
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 | Dunbarton | Bedford | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
23,746Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Bedford School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
12.8Lowest |
| 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.