Compare towns

Bow vs Canton vs Windham

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 most affordable homes ($507k median).
Canton has the most renters (26.4% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureBowCantonWindham
People
Population
8,335Lowest
24,748Highest
16,038
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
42.6±2.3Highest
10% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Canton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
22.9%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Bow 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%
18.8%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Canton 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
67.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
$143,381±$9kLowest
78% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
$710,600±$27k
114% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Windham and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$2,315±$178
64% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$6,560Lowest
110% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Canton and Windham 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%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
73.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
36 minHighest
36% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Canton 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 #26 of 120 in NH #81 of 282 in MA #13 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton Windham School District
High school in town Bow High School Canton High Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
13.1Highest
12.8Lowest
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.