What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the highest household income ($173k).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bow	Ayer
People
Population	8,335Lowest	8,645Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S.	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Bow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Bow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average
	Bow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Ayer 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	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Bow School District	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Bow High School	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.