What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the highest household income ($173k).

Hinesburg has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Hinesburg
People
Population	8,335Highest	4,718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	50.1±5.2Highest 29% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hinesburg 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%	64.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$112,539±$18kLowest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$463,400±$51kLowest 39% above U.S.
	Bow and Hinesburg 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.	$1,651±$155Highest 17% above U.S.
	Hinesburg 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.	$7,667Lowest 146% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	52.2%±29.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hinesburg 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%	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	83.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	20 minLowest 26% below U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Hinesburg 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	#4 of 70 in VT
School district	Bow School District	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town	Bow High School	Champlain Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	14.5Highest
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.