Compare towns

Townsend vs Londonderry vs Bow

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 most affordable homes ($433k median).
Londonderry has the oldest population (median age 42.4).
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.

MeasureTownsendLondonderryBow
People
Population
9,100
12,225Highest
8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
42.4±1Highest
9% above U.S.
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
Londonderry and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.6Highest
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%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Londonderry 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±$23k
51% above U.S.
$119,571±$13kLowest
48% above U.S.
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
$469,500±$23k
41% above U.S.
$506,500±$34kHighest
52% above U.S.
Bow and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above U.S.
$1,952±$135Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,539±$178
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
$7,568
143% above U.S.
$9,584Highest
207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
60.6%±13.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39%±13.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Londonderry and Townsend 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%
2.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.4%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
22.7%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Bow and Londonderry 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 #37 of 120 in NH #26 of 120 in NH
School district North Middlesex — Bow School District
High school in town North Middlesex Regional — Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
—
12.8Lowest
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.