Compare towns
Bow vs Mapleton vs Townsend vs Union
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Mapleton | Townsend | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
1,884Lowest |
9,100Highest |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Mapleton and Union 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Union 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Union 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Bow School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | North Middlesex | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.