Compare towns
Ripton vs Bow vs Townshend
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 most kids (25% under 18).
Townshend has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Ripton | Bow | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 508Lowest |
8,335Highest |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% 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% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Ripton 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Bow School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.