What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.

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

Measure	Bow	Canaan
People
Population	8,335Highest	3,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH	44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average
	Canaan and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.1%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Canaan and Bow 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 NH: 40.6%	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Canaan 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 75% above NH	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,584Highest 44% above NH	$5,985Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan 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 NH: 7.2%	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	30 minHighest 12% above NH
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bow and Canaan 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	#83 of 120 in NH
School district	Bow School District	Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town	Bow High School	Mascoma Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.