Compare towns
Bow vs Brookline vs Durham vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Bow | Brookline | Durham | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
5,736 |
15,080Highest |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Brookline and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Brookline School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
NH 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.