Compare towns

Bow vs Hampton vs Hampton 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 most affordable homes ($507k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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.

MeasureBowHamptonHamptonBrookline
People
Population
8,335
16,426Highest
10,101
5,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%
NH: +4.6%
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+13%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±2
4% below NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
51.2±1.7
18% above NH
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±3.3
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%
30.9%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
26.9%±3.1
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Hampton and Hampton 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
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
44.2%
NH: 40.6%
57.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.4%±1.7
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
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
75% above NH
$95,233±$9kLowest
4% below NH
$97,163±$4k
about the NH average
$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±$34kLowest
26% above NH
$550,200±$39kHighest
37% above NH
$545,300±$63k
35% above NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178Lowest
3% above NH
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
$1,654±$93
11% above NH
$2,500±$1kHighest
68% above NH
Brookline and Hampton 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
$6,813Lowest
about the NH average
$6,872
3% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
48.9%±13.1
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton and Hampton 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%
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
NH: 72.8%
73.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
74.5%
NH: 72.8%
95.1%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1979
same as NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
26 minLowest
3% below NH
26 minLowest
3% below NH
33 minHighest
25% above NH
Work from home
22.7%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
20.5%±3.8Lowest
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 #31 of 120 in NH #31 of 120 in NH #23 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District — Brookline School District
High school in town Bow High School Winnacunnet High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
10.1Lowest
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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.