Compare towns
Bow vs Brookline vs Putney
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Brookline has the oldest population (median age 45.1).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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 | Bow | Brookline | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
531Lowest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7Highest 16% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brookline and Putney 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% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and Brookline 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Bow School District | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | Bow High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.