Compare towns
Bow vs Douglas vs Groton
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%).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($743k 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 | Douglas | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
9,207 |
11,390Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.4±2.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
28.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Groton and Bow 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% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Groton 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% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10kLowest 89% above U.S. |
$192,958±$27kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Groton 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±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$743,400±$46kHighest 123% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
$1,458±$335Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Bow and Douglas 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. |
$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.8%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Groton 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Groton 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #39 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | Douglas | Groton-Dunstable |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Douglas High School | Groton Dunstable Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
7.2Lowest |
13.7Highest |
| 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.