Compare towns
Addison vs Bow vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most homeowners (89.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Addison | Bow | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175 |
8,335Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23k 9% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Addison and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 87% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Addison and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Waltham 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | — |
| 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.