Compare towns

Newfields vs Townsend vs Bow

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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.

MeasureNewfieldsTownsendBow
People
Population
2,023Lowest
9,100Highest
8,335
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8Highest
13% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kLowest
51% above U.S.
$172,857±$16k
114% above U.S.
Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$506,500±$34k
52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
Newfields and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
$9,584
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Newfields and Bow 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 — #136 of 282 in MA #26 of 120 in NH
School district Newfields School District North Middlesex Bow School District
High school in town None in town North Middlesex Regional Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1Highest
12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.