What stands out worked out from the figures below

Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k 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	Douglas	Bow
People
Population	9,207Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Douglas and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$152,267±$10kLowest 89% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
	Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$470,600±$29kLowest 41% above U.S.	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
	Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	20.9%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Douglas	Bow School District
High school in town	Douglas High School	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.2Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.