Compare towns
Calais vs Bow vs Worcester vs Barnard
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 homeowners (92.4%).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Barnard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
8,335Highest |
831Lowest |
1,211 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Barnard 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%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Calais 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% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
| Bow and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Calais 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.