Compare towns
Marlow vs Bow vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlow has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Marlow | Bow | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 855Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±6.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Marlow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.4% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,154±$160Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,826 13% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 18.2%±95.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Marlow School District | Bow School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school 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 |
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.