Compare towns
Meredith vs Bow vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Sanbornton has the most affordable homes ($452k 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 | Meredith | Bow | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
8,335Highest |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$113,750±$41k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$452,300±$30kLowest 12% above NH |
| Bow and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
| Bow and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| 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.