Compare towns

Ripton vs Bow vs Middletown Springs

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasureRiptonBowMiddletown Springs
People
Population
508Lowest
8,335Highest
747
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.7±14.2
23% above U.S.
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
49.2±5.1Highest
26% above U.S.
Middletown Springs and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,917±$15k
40% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$82,000±$12kLowest
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
$262,200±$24kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,539±$178Highest
9% above U.S.
$1,208±$438Lowest
15% below U.S.
Bow and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,915
58% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
$4,595Lowest
47% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.9%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
20%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Ripton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
Work from home
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Ripton 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 — #26 of 120 in NH —
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Bow School District Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69
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 History 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.