Compare towns

Henniker vs Bow vs South Berwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureHennikerBowSouth Berwick
People
Population
6,197Lowest
8,335Highest
7,670
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
31.1±6.1Lowest
20% below U.S.
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
39±2.5
about the U.S. average
Bow and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.3%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
27%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$95,206±$21kLowest
18% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$356,700±$49kLowest
7% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,726±$83Highest
22% above U.S.
South Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,877
185% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
South Berwick and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
15.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and South Berwick 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 #56 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME
School district Henniker School District Bow School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town None in town Bow High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.8Lowest
13.0Highest
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.