What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($337k median).

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

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	Bristol	Bow
People
Population	3,778Lowest	8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.9±4.8Highest 23% above U.S.	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Bristol and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bristol and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,620±$8kLowest 8% below U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$337,300±$46kLowest about the U.S. average	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,275±$181Lowest 10% below U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
	Bow and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,978Lowest 92% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.9%±14.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bristol and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Bristol 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	#31 of 70 in VT	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61	Bow School District
High school in town	Mt. Abraham Union High School	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.8Highest
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.