Compare towns

Bow vs Winchester vs Auburn

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 the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).

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.

MeasureBowWinchesterAuburn
People
Population
8,335
23,406Highest
6,119Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+20%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Lowest
7% above U.S.
42.5±1.9
9% above U.S.
44.3±5.9Highest
14% above U.S.
Auburn and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
27.6%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Winchester and Bow 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%
18%±2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Winchester 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.3%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Auburn and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
$230,198±$21kHighest
185% above U.S.
$153,253±$6kLowest
90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
$1,215,200±$39kHighest
265% above U.S.
$600,300±$29k
80% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$2,279±$481Highest
61% above U.S.
$1,893±$822
34% above U.S.
Winchester and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,092Lowest
159% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
39.3%±13.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±27Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Winchester and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1954Lowest
26 yrs older than U.S.
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
33.8%±3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Winchester and Auburn 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 #11 of 282 in MA #44 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Winchester Auburn School District
High school in town Bow High School Winchester High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
14.8Highest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.