The Town FilesBow, New Hampshire
Town in Merrimack County · population 8,229 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $506,500
- Household income
- $172,857
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 41.5
Bow is a town of 8,229 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $506,500, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for families than 97% of New Hampshire towns, more upscale than 97% of New Hampshire towns.
How Bow ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bow is worth $506,500, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $172,857, which is more affordable than 93% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,539 a month. 87.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bow | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $506,500 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,539 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $172,857 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 87.5% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Bow
| People | Bow | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.5 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.6% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 60.3% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 22.7% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.5% | 92.5% |
Weather in Bow
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.7 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bow since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on June 9, 1963 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 20, 1968.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 9, 2007.
Severe weather in Merrimack County since 1996
Merrimack County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| January 2, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4355: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Merrimack County
Merrimack County had 77,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,857 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Bow itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Public schools in Bow
4 public schools with 1,669 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bow High School | 9-12 | 611 | 12.7 |
| Bow Memorial School | 5-8 | 530 | 12.9 |
| Bow Elementary School | PK-4 | 528 | 13.5 |
| Bow Preschool | PK-PK | — | — |
Towns near Bow
- Dunbarton, NH3.8 mi · 3,005 people · home $484,100
- Suncook, NH4.4 mi · 5,501 people · home $361,100
- Hooksett, NH4.9 mi · 5,283 people · home $348,100
- Pembroke, NH5.5 mi · 7,207 people · home $371,500
- Hooksett, NH5.8 mi · 14,871 people · home $407,000
- Concord, NH7.0 mi · 43,976 people · home $350,900
- Allenstown, NH7.7 mi · 4,707 people · home $243,600
- Goffstown, NH7.9 mi · 18,577 people · home $377,400
Bow questions
Is Bow, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bow scores better for retirees than 45% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 21%. 17.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.5).
How much does a house cost in Bow?
The median owner-occupied home in Bow is valued at $506,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $172,857, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,539 a month.
What is the weather like in Bow?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 67.7 inches of snow.
Does Bow get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bow since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on June 9, 1963. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)