What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilbraham has the most affordable homes ($416k 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	Wilbraham
People
Population	8,335Lowest	14,572Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.	44.3±2.7Highest 14% above U.S.
	Wilbraham and Bow 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%	23.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Wilbraham 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%	23%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Wilbraham 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%	51.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Wilbraham 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.	$122,051±$14kLowest 51% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.	$416,000±$25kLowest 25% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,175±$241Lowest 17% below U.S.
	Bow and Wilbraham 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.	$6,658Lowest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.1%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#26 of 120 in NH	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Bow School District	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Bow High School	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Lowest	14.2Highest
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.