Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Bow vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Hopkinton | Bow | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,037 |
8,335Highest |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.2% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $137,477±$21k 39% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Bow and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| Bow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Bow School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Lowest |
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.