Compare towns
Bow vs Townsend vs Ashburnham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Townsend has the most renters (18% rent).
Ashburnham has the most affordable homes ($391k 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.
| Measure | Bow | Townsend | Ashburnham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
9,100Highest |
6,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40.7±6.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Bow and Townsend 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Ashburnham 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashburnham 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$118,809±$11kLowest 47% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$390,700±$34kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,807±$1kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Ashburnham and Bow 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,046 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ashburnham and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±7.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Ashburnham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | North Middlesex | Ashburnham-Westminster |
| High school in town | Bow High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.