What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Naples has the most affordable homes ($340k 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	Naples
People
Population	8,335Highest	3,985Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	49.8±6.8Highest 28% above U.S.
	Naples 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%	15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	23.3%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Naples 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%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Naples 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.	$78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S.	$1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S.
	Naples 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.	$2,784Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Naples 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%	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5% U.S.: 65.2%	87.5% U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 45% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Naples and Bow 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	#118 of 133 in ME
School district	Bow School District	RSU 61/MSAD 61
High school in town	Bow High School	Lake Region High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.