Compare towns
Bow vs Bedford vs Waitsfield vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the youngest population (median age 41.5).
Bedford has the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Waitsfield has the most affordable homes ($422k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Bow | Bedford | Waitsfield | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
23,746Highest |
1,918Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45±2.2Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3 14% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Waitsfield 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% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Bow 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. |
$167,418±$12k 107% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
| Bow and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29k 80% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$6,208Lowest 99% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bedford and Auburn 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 | #7 of 120 in NH | — | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Bedford School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Bedford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.