What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k 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	Mason
People
Population	8,335Highest	1,451Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH	43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average
	Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Mason 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 NH: 20.1%	15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Bow and Mason 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 NH: 40.6%	39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH	$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH	$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH	$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH
	Mason and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,584Highest 44% above NH	$7,049Lowest 6% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Mason 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 NH: 7.2%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	41 minHighest 53% above NH
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%	20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Bow and Mason 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	—
School district	Bow School District	Mason School District
High school in town	Bow High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.