Compare towns
Rupert vs Bow vs Middlesex vs Ira
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Ira has the most affordable homes ($273k 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 | Rupert | Bow | Middlesex | Ira |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 676 |
8,335Highest |
1,943 |
381Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
54.1±5.5 39% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$71,827±$5kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$272,900±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$942±$52Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Bow and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594 47% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,146Lowest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Ira are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | Bow School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school 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 | 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.