What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).

North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k 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	North Andover
People
Population	8,335Lowest	31,490Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S.	39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average
	Bow and North Andover 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%	21.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bow and North Andover 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%	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$140,670±$9kLowest 74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S.	$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S.	$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.	$7,767Lowest 149% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Andover 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%	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and North Andover 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	#98 of 282 in MA
School district	Bow School District	North Andover
High school in town	Bow High School	North Andover High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	13.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.