What stands out worked out from the figures below

Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k 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	Readfield	Bow
People
Population	2,651Lowest	8,335Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S.	41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Readfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.7%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Readfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average	$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S.	$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S.
	Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bow and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Lowest 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	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Readfield 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	#20 of 133 in ME	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 38	Bow School District
High school in town	Maranacook Community High Sch	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	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.