Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Nelson 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).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Nelson | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
648Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bow 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% 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±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Nelson 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Nelson 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Nelson School District | 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 |
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.