Compare towns
Bow vs Needham 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 most affordable homes ($507k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335 |
32,459Highest |
5,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Needham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kLowest 112% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
| Brookline and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Lowest 207% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Bow 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% |
3.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Needham | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.