What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Andover has the most expensive homes ($733k median).

Bow has the most affordable 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	North Andover	Bow
People
Population	31,490Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average	41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S.
	Bow and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bow and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,670±$9kLowest 74% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S.	$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S.	$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,767Lowest 149% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Andover and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	20.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and North Andover 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	#98 of 282 in MA	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	North Andover	Bow School District
High school in town	North Andover High	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	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.