Compare towns
Bow vs Newfields vs Ashby
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%).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.
| Measure | Bow | Newfields | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
2,023Lowest |
3,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kLowest 43% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.