Compare towns

Bow vs Castleton vs Brookline vs Concord

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 highest household income ($173k).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).

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.

MeasureBowCastletonBrooklineConcord
People
Population
8,335
4,453Lowest
5,736
44,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2Highest
7% above U.S.
38.3±4.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.2±1.5
6% above U.S.
40.7±1.3
5% above U.S.
Bow and Brookline 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%
18.8%±6.4
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.2%±1.3Lowest
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%
20.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.7%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Castleton and Concord 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%
37.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
19.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2
U.S.: 6.4%
6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$172,857±$16kHighest
114% above U.S.
$73,854±$23kLowest
9% below U.S.
$171,046±$4k
112% above U.S.
$84,902±$5k
5% 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.
$224,800±$71kLowest
32% below U.S.
$544,400±$38kHighest
64% above U.S.
$350,900±$13k
5% above 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.
$1,137±$195Lowest
20% below U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
$1,441±$43
about the U.S. average
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
207% above U.S.
$3,167Lowest
about the U.S. average
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$7,227
132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
67.7%±21.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±5.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Castleton and Concord 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%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
79%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
56.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #39 of 70 in VT #23 of 120 in NH #89 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 Brookline School District Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town None in town Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
— —
13.0Highest
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.