Compare towns
Townsend vs Bow vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Townsend | Bow | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100 |
8,335Lowest |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Hudson 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Bow School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Bow High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.8 |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.