What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k 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	Sturbridge
People
Population	8,335Lowest	9,960Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Sturbridge 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%	19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Sturbridge 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.	$136,759±$15kLowest 69% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
	Bow and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge 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%	3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Bow School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Bow High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	7.7Lowest
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.