Compare towns
Bow vs Milton vs Reading
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%).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Milton | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
28,587Highest |
25,612 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.1±1.8Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Reading and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Bow 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% |
16.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
$165,912±$13kLowest 106% above U.S. |
| Milton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
$809,000±$22k 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,991±$273Highest 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
$9,320Lowest 199% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton 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% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Milton 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 | #55 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Reading |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Reading Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.