Compare towns
Union vs Bow vs Appleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Appleton has the oldest population (median age 49.2).
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 | Union | Bow | Appleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,663 |
8,335Highest |
1,360Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.9%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest 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+ | 21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,104±$82Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Bow and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,276Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Bow School District | Appleton Public Schools |
| 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.