Compare towns

Dunbarton vs St. Albans 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 oldest population (median age 48).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k 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.

MeasureDunbartonSt. AlbansBow
People
Population
3,097Lowest
6,954
8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48±3.7Highest
23% above U.S.
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.8%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.4%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Dunbarton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
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.
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$484,100±$33k
46% above U.S.
$263,400±$18kLowest
21% below 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.
$1,150±$78Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,233
164% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.7%±60.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dunbarton and St. Albans 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%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.6%±5.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5Lowest
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 #46 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH
School district Dunbarton School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Bow School District
High school in town None in town Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
12.8Highest
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.