Compare towns
Sullivan vs Bow vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the oldest population (median age 46.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Gilsum has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Sullivan | Bow | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
8,335Highest |
716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
| Sullivan and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,575±$894Highest 6% above NH |
| Gilsum and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Gilsum 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 | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.