Compare towns
Milford vs Bow vs Norwich vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Norwich has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
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 | Milford | Bow | Norwich | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
8,335 |
3,640Lowest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Lowest 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+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest 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 | $97,768±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
| Milford and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 141% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Bow School District | Norwich School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Bow High School | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 11.8 |
| 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.