What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Highgate has the most affordable homes ($281k 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	Highgate
People
Population	8,335Highest	3,528Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	44±7.4Highest 13% above U.S.
	Highgate 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%	15.8%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.2%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Highgate 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%	19.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Highgate 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.	$81,017±$14kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$280,500±$21kLowest 16% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.	$895±$691Lowest 37% below U.S.
	Bow and Highgate 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.	$3,558Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	30.5%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bow and Highgate 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%	8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Highgate 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	#43 of 70 in VT
School district	Bow School District	Missisquoi Valley School District #89
High school in town	Bow High School	Missisquoi Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.