Compare towns
Suncook vs Canterbury 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
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Suncook | Canterbury | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,432 |
2,353Lowest |
8,335Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Canterbury 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 | — | Shaker Regional School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bow High School |
| 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.