Compare towns
Bow vs Hooksett vs Sturbridge 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).
Hooksett has the most renters (19.4% rent).
Sturbridge has the oldest population (median age 47.2).
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.
| Measure | Bow | Hooksett | Sturbridge | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
15,057Highest |
9,960 |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±3 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge and Bow 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Brookline 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. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15k 69% 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±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above 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. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Hooksett 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,520Lowest 109% 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% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sturbridge and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #89 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Hooksett School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 7.7Lowest |
— |
| 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.