Compare towns
Bow vs Stoneham vs Stoneham
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 highest household income ($173k).
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 | Stoneham | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
23,355Highest |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Stoneham 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. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
$6,523Lowest 109% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #26 of 120 in NH | #117 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.