Compare towns
Calais vs Bow vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most affordable homes ($390k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Westford has the oldest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Calais | Bow | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
8,335Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Calais and Bow 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 | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Bow School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.