Compare towns
Ashby vs Bow vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k 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 | Ashby | Bow | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
8,335Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Bow 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bow School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.