Compare towns

Bow vs Cavendish vs Whitingham vs Brookline

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).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whitingham has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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.

MeasureBowCavendishWhitinghamBrookline
People
Population
8,335Highest
1,242Lowest
1,368
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
45.2±5.9
16% above U.S.
46.4±7.1Highest
19% above U.S.
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Whitingham and Cavendish 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%
18.3%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±4.5
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
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%
23.6%±2
U.S.: 17.2%
31.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
32.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
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.
$89,063±$29k
10% above U.S.
$70,625±$11kLowest
13% below U.S.
$171,046±$4k
112% 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.
$285,100±$40k
14% below U.S.
$262,300±$30kLowest
21% below U.S.
$544,400±$38kHighest
64% 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.
$1,000±$546
29% below U.S.
$673±$150Lowest
52% below U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above 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
$9,584
207% above U.S.
$3,948Lowest
27% above U.S.
$5,055
62% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
U.S.: 51.1%
28.9%±27
U.S.: 51.1%
62.7%±47.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Whitingham 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%
6.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
15.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
81.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1968Lowest
12 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
38 minHighest
44% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
18.5%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
9.7%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
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 — — #23 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Twin Valley Unified School District #75 Brookline School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town Twin Valley Middle High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
7.8Lowest
—
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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.