Compare towns

Bow vs Stoneham vs Windham

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 affordable homes ($507k median).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureBowStonehamWindham
People
Population
8,335Lowest
23,355Highest
16,038
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
42.2±2.2Highest
8% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
Stoneham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.6%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Stoneham 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%
55.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
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±$16k
114% above U.S.
$113,964±$10kLowest
41% above U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Windham 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±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Windham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$2,035±$142
44% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$6,523Lowest
109% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham and Stoneham 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%
5.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham 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 #117 of 282 in MA #13 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Stoneham Windham School District
High school in town Bow High School Stoneham High Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.7Lowest
12.8Highest
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.