Compare towns
Webster vs Bow vs Douglas
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most renters (40.2% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Douglas has the oldest population (median age 44).
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 | Webster | Bow | Douglas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,748Highest |
8,335Lowest |
9,207 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.9±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Douglas and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Webster and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Webster and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,895±$6kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$152,267±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,500±$12kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$470,600±$29k 41% above U.S. |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,228±$81Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,503±$697 6% above U.S. |
| Bow and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,999Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,338 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Douglas 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #177 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Webster | Bow School District | Douglas |
| High school in town | Bartlett High School | Bow High School | Douglas High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
12.8Highest |
7.2Lowest |
| 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.