Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Bennington vs Bow vs Goffstown
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 oldest population (median age 48).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Goffstown has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Bennington | Bow | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
1,588Lowest |
8,335 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
| Bow and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Bennington 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Bow School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| 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.