Compare towns
Franklin vs Bow vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Franklin | Bow | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799Highest |
8,335 |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Salisbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Franklin School District | Bow School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.