What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most expensive homes ($687k median).

Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Walpole	Bow
People
Population	26,388Highest	8,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S.
	Bow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Walpole and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Bow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Bow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kLowest 112% above U.S.	$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S.
	Bow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S.	$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S.	$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Lowest 173% above U.S.	$9,584Highest 207% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	39%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bow and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Walpole and Bow 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	#107 of 282 in MA	#26 of 120 in NH
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Bow School District
High school in town	Walpole High	Bow High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	12.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.