Compare towns

Hopkinton vs Norwich vs Bow

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hopkinton has the oldest population (median age 45).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

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.

MeasureHopkintonNorwichBow
People
Population
6,037
3,640Lowest
8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45±2.8Highest
16% above U.S.
40.8±3.2Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.9%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
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±$21kLowest
70% above U.S.
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,900±$54k
52% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,270±$129Lowest
10% below U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
Bow and Norwich 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 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$9,584Lowest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.4%±6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Hopkinton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
23.8%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #1 of 70 in VT #26 of 120 in NH
School district Hopkinton School District Norwich 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

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.