Compare towns
Bow vs Hopkinton vs Brookline vs Windham
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).
Hopkinton has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
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 | Hopkinton | Brookline | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
6,037 |
5,736Lowest |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hopkinton 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% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Brookline 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hopkinton 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% NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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±$16k 75% above NH |
$137,477±$21kLowest 39% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham and Bow 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 |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Windham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Hopkinton 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% |
6.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1993 14 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Hopkinton School District | Brookline School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Hopkinton High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.0Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.