Compare towns
Webster vs Bow vs Warner vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the oldest population (median age 44.7).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Warner has the most renters (25.4% rent).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
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 | Webster | Bow | Warner | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,227 |
8,335Highest |
2,959 |
1,595Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
43.7±4 about the NH average |
43.5±5.7 about the NH average |
| Webster and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±3.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Warner and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Bow and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,022±$18kLowest 5% below NH |
$101,696±$8k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$353,100±$22k 12% below NH |
$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,500±$293 about the NH average |
| Bow and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 10% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,650 15% above NH |
$5,504Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.7%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 14% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
32 min 19% above NH |
39 minHighest 45% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.6%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Webster 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 | Merrimack Valley School District | Bow School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Middleton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.