What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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	Mansfield	Bow
People
Population	23,931Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S.	41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S.
	Bow and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bow and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	51.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$125,273±$15kLowest 55% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.	$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.	$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,226Lowest 132% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bow and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Mansfield	Bow School District
High school in town	Mansfield High	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	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.