Compare towns
Waterville vs Bow vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Waterville | Bow | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
8,335Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Benson 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Bow School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.