What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Bow has the highest household income ($173k).

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	Lunenburg	Bow
People
Population	11,902Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S.	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lunenburg and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kLowest 40% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kLowest 39% above U.S.	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
	Bow and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lunenburg and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Lunenburg	Bow School District
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	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.