What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the most affordable homes ($429k median).

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	North Berwick	Bow
People
Population	5,129Lowest	8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±4.7Highest 7% above U.S.	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	North Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S.	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Berwick and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bow and North Berwick 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	#82 of 133 in ME	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	Bow School District
High school in town	Noble High School	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.8Highest
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.