Compare towns
Meredith 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
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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.
| Measure | Meredith | Norwich | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
3,640Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest 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 | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% 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 | $5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 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 | 26 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Norwich School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 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.