Compare towns
Wilder vs Bow vs Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Merrimack has the most homeowners (88.9%).
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 | Wilder | Bow | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
8,335 |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16k 58% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$458,600±$15k 38% above U.S. |
| Bow and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$7,345 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilder and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.