City profile · Washington · Census ACS 2023

Bow, WA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Bow - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

584
Residents
$67,017
Median income
$361,900
Median home
$1,671
Median rent (state)

Bow - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Bow lands in the 46th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

46th
percentile, household income
73rd
percentile, home value
66th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Bow, WA

584 people live in Bow, Washington - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $67,017 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 0.0%. Typical homes in Bow are valued around $361,900, and the median resident age is 40.5 years. About 18.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 81.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Washington carries a cost-of-living premium: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Washington scores 107.0 (Above Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,671 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $188 across Washington, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. The average commute for Bow workers runs 15.6 minutes, with 95.8% driving alone and 4.2% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 78.0 out of 100 (High).

Population

584 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Washington

Median Household Income

$67,017 /yr

Poverty 0.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

107.0 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Washington average

How does Bow compare to other US cities?

Where Bow sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 46% higher than other cities
Home value 73% pricier than other cities
Median rent 66% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Bow against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Washington only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Washington-relative analysis

Poverty Rate places Bow near the bottom of Washington's cities

Among the 598 Washington cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Bow ranks #489 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Bow only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#401 of 565
29th percentile in Washington
Median Gross Rent
#303 of 599
45th percentile in Washington
Median Home Value
#339 of 565
40th percentile in Washington
Poverty Rate
#489 of 598
0th percentile in Washington
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#422 of 599
29th percentile in Washington

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Washington only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

46thIncome percentile

46th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Bow's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$361,900 27th percentile more affordable than 27% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Bow $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Bow, WA Bow, WA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Bow, WA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Bow, WA median $67,017/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Bow, WA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Bow, WA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 0.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 81.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
584
Median Income
$67,017
Median Home Value
$361,900
Median Age
40.5
Poverty Rate
0.0%
Labor force participation
81.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.4%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.6 minutes
Drive Alone
95.8%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.2%

Based on 360 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Washington - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$85
avg/month
Natural Gas
$48
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$188
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Washington state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Washington state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Bow sits in

Cost of Living Index
107.0
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,671/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
78.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Washington

Garfield
586 people
Deming
594 people
Ashford
570 people
White Swan
598 people
Cathlamet
569 people
Curlew Lake
605 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Bow's 584 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Trout Valley, IL
584 people
Zearing, IA
584 people
Cheshire, MA
584 people
Cement City, MI
584 people
Fairmont, NE
584 people
Mesquite, NM
584 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Bow's $67,017 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Newton, KS
$67,015 median income
Pollock, SD
$67,019 median income
Miami Beach, FL
$67,014 median income
Bay Pines, FL
$67,012 median income
Rock Valley, IA
$67,012 median income
Twin Lakes, VA
$67,012 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Bow, WA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Bow, WA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.5% 23.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 23.5% White 76.5% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 23.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Bow compares to nearby Washington cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Bow (this city) 584 $67,017
Garfield 586 $60,536
Deming 594 $84,315
Ashford 570 $110,785
Census ACS 5-year FIPS WA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Bow, WA?

What is the population of Bow, WA? +

584 people live in Bow, WA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Bow, WA? +

Median annual household income in Bow runs $67,017, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Bow? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Bow; the closest available measure is the Washington state average, a cost of living index of 107.0 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Washington vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Bow, WA? +

The median home value in Bow is $361,900, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.