Compare towns
Sidney vs Bow vs Union
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Union has the most affordable homes ($268k 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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,790 |
8,335Highest |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Sidney and Union 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%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Union 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% |
21.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% 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% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10k 3% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452Lowest 17% below 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 | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bow and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| 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.