Compare towns
Bow vs Windham vs Woonsocket
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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 | Windham | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Lowest |
16,038 |
43,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Bow and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Lowest 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%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% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Woonsocket 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. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below 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. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Woonsocket 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% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Bow School District | Windham School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Windham High School | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
12.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
| 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.