Compare towns

Bow vs Newfields vs Saco

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 the most kids (25% under 18).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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.

MeasureBowNewfieldsSaco
People
Population
8,335
2,023Lowest
20,819Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
Saco and Newfields 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%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Saco 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%
43.5%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%
5.2%±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.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% 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.
$413,100±$17kLowest
24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% 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.
$4,807Lowest
54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
26 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
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 — #38 of 133 in ME
School district Bow School District Newfields School District Saco Public Schools
High school in town Bow High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
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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.