Compare towns
Hopkinton vs Dunbarton 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
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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.
| Measure | Hopkinton | Dunbarton | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,037 |
3,097Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45±2.8 4% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Hopkinton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Hopkinton 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 |
$124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% 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 |
$484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above 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±$129 15% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Hopkinton 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 |
$8,233Lowest 23% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hopkinton School District | Dunbarton School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| 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.