Compare towns
Windham vs Ayer 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
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Ayer has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Ayer | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,038Highest |
8,645 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.