Compare towns
Bow vs Ferrisburgh vs Westford
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%).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,661 |
2,290Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Ferrisburgh and Westford 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% |
17.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Ferrisburgh 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% |
23.3%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ferrisburgh 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford 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 114% above U.S. |
$106,989±$22kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$422,700±$35kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,435±$173Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Bow 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. |
$6,120Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ferrisburgh and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Westford 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 | #7 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 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.