Compare towns

Bow vs Chilmark 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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureBowChilmarkBrookline
People
Population
8,335Highest
1,578Lowest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+40%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.5±2
7% above U.S.
53.6±8.1Highest
38% above U.S.
41.2±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±4.3Lowest
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%
36.2%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±2.6Lowest
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.
$168,750±$28kLowest
109% above 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±$34kLowest
52% above U.S.
$1,895,300±$281kHighest
470% above U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
9% above U.S.
$2,750±$2kHighest
95% above U.S.
$2,500±$1k
77% above U.S.
Chilmark and Brookline 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.
$4,485Lowest
44% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.8%±59.9
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Bow and Chilmark 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%
4.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1984Lowest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
32 min
19% above U.S.
33 minHighest
26% above U.S.
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.7%±11Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Chilmark 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 — #23 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Up-Island Regional Brookline 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 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.