Compare towns
Grantham vs Wolfeboro 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
Grantham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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.
| Measure | Grantham | Wolfeboro | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,465Lowest |
6,571 |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.4±7.5 16% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Wolfeboro and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.6% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Grantham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $343,100±$39kLowest 15% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,605 14% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | — | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 16% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Grantham School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
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.