Compare towns
Sullivan vs Keene 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 oldest population (median age 46.6).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Keene | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
22,939Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% 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%±5 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sullivan and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
| Bow and Keene 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
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.