Compare towns

Bow vs Newfields vs Hampton Beach 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).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureBowNewfieldsHampton BeachBrookline
People
Population
8,335Highest
2,023Lowest
2,605
5,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+13%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.5±2
4% below NH
44.1±1.8
about the NH average
60.4±2.4Highest
39% above NH
41.2±1.5Lowest
5% below NH
Kids under 18
25%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
18.9%±1.6
NH: 18.2%
3.1%±2.8Lowest
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%
13.6%±0.9
NH: 20.1%
33.7%±4.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
11.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
60.3%
NH: 40.6%
68.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
57.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±1.9
NH: 6%
7.5%±7.2Highest
NH: 6%
0.6%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
6.3%±3.2
NH: 6%
Newfields 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
$197,885±$15kHighest
100% above NH
$82,557±$17kLowest
17% below 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±$34kLowest
26% above NH
$646,400±$34kHighest
61% above NH
$508,900±$76k
26% above NH
$544,400±$38k
35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,539±$178
3% above NH
$1,875±$323
26% above NH
$1,375±$130Lowest
8% below 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$6,115Lowest
8% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
39%±13.2
NH: 48.2%
43.3%±40.8
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±20.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hampton Beach and Newfields 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%
2.4%
NH: 7.2%
8.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
0.6%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.5%
NH: 72.8%
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1991
12 yrs newer than NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1993Highest
14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
26 min
4% below NH
25 minLowest
5% below NH
33 minHighest
25% above NH
Work from home
22.7%±4.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
26.9%±6.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
24.7%±5.8
NH: 16.8%
Hampton Beach and Newfields 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 — — #23 of 120 in NH
School district Bow School District Newfields School District — Brookline School District
High school in town Bow High School None in town — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
— — —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → 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.