Compare towns
Madbury vs Norwich vs Bow vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Madbury | Norwich | Bow | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,203 |
3,640 |
8,335Highest |
1,917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
39.4±7.4 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Madbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 84% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$107,863±$45kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Bow and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 43% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$363,100±$60kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759 11% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,068±$385Highest 46% above U.S. |
| Holderness and Madbury 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. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$3,923Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Bow School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.