Compare towns
Bow vs Brookline vs Webster
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
5,736 |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
| Webster 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% |
22.6%±8Lowest 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 75% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% 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±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| 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 3% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Brookline School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.