Compare towns
Suncook vs Dedham vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,432Lowest |
25,237Highest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.9±8.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
55% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,836±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$128,955±$10k 60% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,100±$22kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$317Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,975Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±21.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.5%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dedham | Bow School District |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.