What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).

Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampton	Bow
People
Population	16,426Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH	41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH
Kids under 18	11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2%	25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	60.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%	5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	Bow and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH	$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH	$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH
	Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH	$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH
	Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,813Lowest about the NH average	$9,584Highest 44% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2%	39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	87.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 3% below NH	27 minHighest about the NH average
Work from home	21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bow and Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District	Bow School District
High school in town	Winnacunnet High School	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.