What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Westhampton has the oldest population (median age 49.3).

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	Westhampton
People
Population	8,335Highest	1,552Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	49.3±4.9Highest 27% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	18%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Westhampton 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%	25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Westhampton 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.	$100,000±$7kLowest 24% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$413,200±$24kLowest 24% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,304±$229Lowest 8% below U.S.
	Bow and Westhampton 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.	$6,476Lowest 108% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.3%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bow and Westhampton 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%	6.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the U.S. average	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Westhampton 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	—
School district	Bow School District	Hampshire · Westhampton
High school in town	Bow High School	Hampshire Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	10.0Lowest
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.