Compare towns
Bow vs Calais vs Worcester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Bow | Calais | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,713 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Calais 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% |
22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester 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. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Bow and Calais 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. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais 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% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.