Compare towns
Bow vs Brookline vs Epping vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Epping has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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.
| Measure | Bow | Brookline | Epping | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
5,736 |
7,430 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Epping and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4k 112% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Brookline School District | Epping School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.