Compare towns

Dunbarton vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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.

MeasureDunbartonReadingBow
People
Population
3,097
699Lowest
8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7
23% above U.S.
51.1±7.6Highest
31% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
Reading 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%
18.5%±4.2Lowest
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%
28.2%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.1%±2.5Lowest
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.
$85,000±$19kLowest
5% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$377,200±$72kLowest
13% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
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
17% below U.S.
$1,100±$331Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233
164% above U.S.
$5,754Lowest
84% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7
U.S.: 51.1%
63.3%±31.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Reading 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%
8.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
33 min
25% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.6%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.9%±10.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 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 History 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.