What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k median).

Bow has the most expensive homes ($507k median).

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	Hampden	Bow
People
Population	7,896Lowest	8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S.
	Bow and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bow and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kLowest 39% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
	Bow and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bow and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Bow School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.8Lowest
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.