Compare towns
Westmore 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
Westmore has the most homeowners (88.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k 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 | Westmore | Bow | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 465Lowest |
8,335Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.5±11.5 32% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Westmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westmore and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.1Lowest 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 | $87,188±$11k 8% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,000±$137k about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$820Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,357 72% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±94.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14%±5.6Lowest 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 | — | Bow School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school 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.