Compare towns
Bow vs Washington vs Williamstown
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%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Washington | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
1,056Lowest |
3,579 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
42±5 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Williamstown 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% |
24.3%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Williamstown 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. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24k 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williamstown 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. |
$3,485Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Washington 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bow School District | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.