Compare towns
Bow vs Chester vs Townsend
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 people working from home (22.7%).
Chester has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Chester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
5,300Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
47.2±3.8Highest 21% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Chester 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Townsend 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% |
17.4%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Chester 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% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Townsend 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. |
$142,212±$19k 76% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Bow and Chester 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. |
$552,300±$42kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Chester and Bow 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. |
— | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Bow and Townsend 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. |
$8,464 171% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
19%±72.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 min 33% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Chester 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | Chester School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.