What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k 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	Salem
People
Population	8,335Highest	2,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.
	Salem 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%	16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem 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%	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.	$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.	$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem 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%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem 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	#376 of 484 in NY
School district	Bow School District	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	Bow High School	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	8.5Lowest
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.