Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Merrimac 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
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Merrimac has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Merrimac | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
6,748 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 23% above U.S. |
49.4±6.8Highest 27% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Merrimac 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 54% above U.S. |
$123,054±$16kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$553,400±$38kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Merrimac and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 17% below U.S. |
$1,352±$325 4% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Bow and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 164% above U.S. |
$7,399Lowest 137% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Merrimac and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Pentucket | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.