Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Franklin 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 oldest population (median age 48).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Franklin | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
8,799Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Franklin 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% |
17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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% |
21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Franklin 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% NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above 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±$70 22% below NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Dunbarton 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Franklin School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2Highest |
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.