Compare towns

Bow vs Windham vs Kittery

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 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.

MeasureBowWindhamKittery
People
Population
8,335Lowest
16,038Highest
10,473
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.8±2.3Highest
20% above U.S.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Bow and Kittery 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.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$93,728±$14kLowest
16% above U.S.
Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$468,500±$31kLowest
41% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,716±$224
21% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,518Lowest
45% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
38.8%±14.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Windham 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%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
67.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1965Lowest
15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #26 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH #17 of 133 in ME
School district Bow School District Windham School District Kittery Public Schools
High school in town Bow High School Windham High School Robert W Traip Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.8Highest
9.9Lowest
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.