Compare towns
Wilton vs Bow vs Temple
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilton has the most renters (23% rent).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Temple has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Wilton | Bow | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,960 |
8,335Highest |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.8±5.2 8% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Temple and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.8%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$94,107±$15kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $381,500±$23kLowest 5% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$401,000±$27k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,382±$70 7% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,169±$523Lowest 22% below NH |
| Bow and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,612 14% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,983Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.1%±39.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Wilton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.7%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Temple 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 | #54 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.