Compare towns
Dunbarton vs New Hampton vs Bennington 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%).
New Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.7).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | New Hampton | Bennington | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
2,509 |
1,588Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
51.7±2.7Highest 19% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| New Hampton 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 NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 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%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| New Hampton 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% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
33.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and New Hampton 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 |
$95,250±$35k 4% below NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$383,700±$37k 5% below NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% 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 |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above 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 |
$4,973Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,944 11% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6 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% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 25% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest 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 |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Newfound Area School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.