Compare towns
Sidney vs Bow vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Chapman has the most affordable homes ($186k 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.
| Measure | Sidney | Bow | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
8,335Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Chapman and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Bow and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474 21% below U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Sidney 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 18 | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.