Compare towns
Sullivan vs Dover vs Bow
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 most affordable homes ($237k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Dover | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
33,364Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Sullivan and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Bow 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Dover 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Dover 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | Dover Senior High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.