Compare towns
Epping vs Bow vs Bennington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | Epping | Bow | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
8,335Highest |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Epping and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest 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+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Bow and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936 4% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Epping School District | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.