Compare towns
Bow vs Lebanon vs Newfields 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
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Lebanon | Newfields | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
14,999Highest |
2,023Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Newfields 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
| Newfields 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±$34k 26% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Newfields 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 |
$8,149Lowest 22% 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% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Lebanon School District | Newfields School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.