Compare towns

Bow vs Hampton Falls vs Concord vs Brookline

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 highest household income ($173k).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
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.

MeasureBowHampton FallsConcordBrookline
People
Population
8,335
2,328Lowest
44,375Highest
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
+3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±2
4% below NH
49.5±7.3Highest
14% above NH
40.7±1.3Lowest
6% below NH
41.2±1.5
5% below NH
Hampton Falls 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%
19.1%±5.6
NH: 18.2%
17.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
26.7%±4Highest
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%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±1.5
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%
NH: 40.6%
42.3%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
57.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
Brookline and Concord 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
$166,157±$14k
68% above NH
$84,902±$5kLowest
14% below NH
$171,046±$4k
73% 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
$772,600±$76kHighest
92% above NH
$350,900±$13kLowest
13% below NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
3% above NH
$1,852±$475
24% above NH
$1,441±$43Lowest
3% below NH
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
Brookline and Hampton Falls 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
$7,227Lowest
8% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
NH: 48.2%
27.2%±22.7
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±5.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Concord 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%
4%
NH: 7.2%
8.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
NH: 72.8%
86.3%
NH: 72.8%
56.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
32 min
21% above NH
23 minLowest
14% below NH
33 minHighest
25% above NH
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
21.8%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8Highest
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 — #89 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Hampton Falls School District Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Brookline School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town Concord High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Lowest
—
13.0Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.